This report covers two interrelated research projects, both dealing with questions of decentralization in the governance of education in South Africa. The first subproject examines the restructuring of educational governance at the level of provincial departments. Research at the institutional level forms part of the other subproject, which…

A survey of 242 administrators and staff examined 12 dimensions of school restructuring in 4 rural South Dakota school districts. Results indicate that restructuring efforts positively impacted learner outcomes, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. However, the dimension of time had not been reconfigured to better accommodate learner needs and…

Discusses declining commitment to education as a public good, addressing contemporary changes in economic organization, the correlative reorganization and design of institutions, and the discourse of privatization. Privatization emphasizes the traditional family and the importance of women's unpaid work for children and schools, despite most…

Using data from over 75 interviews, examines education reform in Detroit (Michigan) and explores the apparent collapse of a local education reform effort in spite of broad dissatisfaction with the current education system. Findings indicate that some long-term institutional impact of the reform remains. (SLD)

Describes trends in educational reform within the past 10 years, explaining the principles around which reforms are organized, and describing the approaches, methodologies, or theories that are deemed appropriate to carrying out these reforms. The leadership of Boricua College, New York (New York) in carrying out reform is explored. (SLD)

Inspired by teachers' concerns about the inadequacy of today's academic curriculum, this special section passes the buck up instead of down. Two articles explore what teachers might accomplish if no longer held captive by outmoded college admission requirements. Articles by education professors from Stanford University and the University of Oregon…

Explores cognitive mapping as a strategy for understanding school people's ideas about school restructuring, describing a study of mapping restructuring and illustrating it with two teachers' cognitive maps about how the process of restructuring should occur. The paper also discusses the implications of cognitive mapping for school restructuring…

Describes the efforts of Canadian provinces to create more effective, efficient, and diverse educational systems. Discusses the four principles of new delivery-system design, the ideal school district size, current trends in school governance, legal issues, and linguistic and religious educational rights. (Nine references) (LMI)

Describes several projects that have enabled teachers to leave the isolation of their own classrooms and think together about student work in the broader contexts of school improvement and professional development. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/MLF)

Analyzed professional development spending at a recently restructured urban high school using information from budget and planning documents and interviews with school and district personnel. Data show that teachers in this school received $9,711 professional development resources on average with 98% of the spending on teacher time and training.…

Describes the restructuring process that Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan, underwent over an 18-month period. Describes establishing the need for change and getting the major players involved (the staff, parents and the community, students, and the central office and board of education). (RS)

School leaders should use the charter-school movement as an opportunity to involve all community members in designing all schools and changing schooling's managerial structure. The Advocacy Design Center process is a community-building strategy based on democratic values and research-based models. The idea is to create vital, inquiry-based schools…

Australia's National Schools Project tried to facilitate restructuring by abolishing, bending, or breaking the rules that prevented schools from improving student outcomes. Since 1992, the 50-school project has expanded to over 200 sites. An evaluation of three NSP schools identifies barriers (cultural resistance and structural complexity) and…

Offers a framework for thinking about ethical principles through the use of codes of ethics. Examines the ethical issues of restructuring and discusses specific ethical dilemmas. Specifically outlines ethics related to resources allocation and management, and details critical points in restructuring. Argues that ethical guidelines help shape…

A Massachusetts regional high school that was formerly on probation has totally restructured its school day, culture, curriculum, and treatment of professionals. Flex time, offered in exchange for performing building supervision duties, allows teachers more flexibility and control in structuring their professional and personal lives. A more…