Explores how heterosexism and homophobia contribute to the construction of a school failure, making the point that what is considered a "private" problem is in reality a socially constructed issue that needs to be addressed at a level beyond that of the individual. (SLD)

Describes the steps being taken in the revision process of the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE): revising the ACRE Religious Knowledge Section, development of score report forms, and program management. States that the main purpose of the revision is to support the teaching and learning environment in Catholic schools. (CJW)

Presents the Diocese of Paterson Schools' (New Jersey) response to the teacher shortage experienced by Catholic schools. States that in order to obtain new teachers to fill positions Paterson schools: used the National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse and the Armed Forces Troops to Teachers program, posted recruitment materials on Diocesan Web…

Describes approaches Arizona State University is taking to ensure that the campus remains an effective educational instrument in the future. Making the "engaged institution" an integral part of metropolitan Phoenix is a priority that can be implemented through new types of partnerships with the community. (SLD)

To meet the challenges of global competition, universities must still maintain a strong regional role. Szeged University, Hungary, provides an example of a university that reaches out to cooperate with other European institutions while retaining the delivery of local educational services. (SLD)

This study focused on school-level approaches to curriculum, as well as school, principal, and student characteristics in juvenile corrections (JC) schools for committed youth. A national random sample of 131 principals from these schools responded to a mail and on-line survey. No statistically significant differences existed between respondent…

One of the central challenges of designing and implementing a performance pay program is developing an approach for determining which schools, teachers, and administrators have performed well enough to have earned a bonus. The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program provides grantees substantial latitude to create…

This article discusses ways on how to address the problem of sexual harassment in schools. Sexual harassment--simply defined as any unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior--is a sensitive topic. Merely providing students, parents, and staff members with information about the school's sexual harassment policy is insufficient; schools must take…

In this article, Brahm Norwich, Professor of Education at the University of Exeter, examines the roles that special schools can play within inclusive educational systems. He notes that the percentage of young people in special schools in England has remained broadly stable over a number of years, despite inclusive policy initiatives. Brahm Norwich…

The purpose of this article was to explore the complex issues surrounding the behaviors exhibited by students who have Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and the role the disorder may play in school violence. Students with NPD are often characterized by arrogance, grandiosity, and self-importance; a preoccupation with fantasies of success and…

Although mental health in schools is discussed at many levels, fundamental differences in varying perspectives, attitudes, and vested interests result in divergent agendas for policy, practice, research, and training. This may confuse stakeholders and provide a source of conflict between policy and practice. This brief highlights a starter list of…

Vaccines are one of the triumphs of modern medicine, relegating many once-fearsome diseases to the history books. Denying access to school has long been the best way to ensure that children get vaccinated, but carrying out any change in immunization policy means a lot of work for school officials. This article discusses the unity of several…

When charter schools first arrived on the American educational scene, few observers suspected that within two decades thousands of these schools would be established, serving almost a million and a half children across forty states. The widespread popularity of these schools, and of the charter movement itself, speaks to the unique and chronic…

Middle- and upper-middle-class students continue to outpace those from less privileged backgrounds. Most attempts to redress this inequality focus on the issue of access to financial resources, but as "Producing Success" makes clear, the problem goes beyond mere economics. In this eye-opening study, Peter Demerath examines a typical suburban…

Recent debates regarding same-sex marriage and gay and lesbian adoption highlight the role of schools as sociopolitical institutions. Accordingly, teachers operating within social norms have considerable influence through their interactions with students and their families. Previous research points to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)…