Efforts in the United States to provide a higher quality education for everyone regardless of race, class, and gender have had, at best, a very modest effect. This paper suggests that the effect of a change strategy depends on the discourse (how things are talked about when teachers solve problems, plan their work, create policy, and explain…

This paper reports the results from a cross-case analysis of a series of individual case studies in "successful" Chicago (Illinois) schools. Success was defined as demonstrating learning gains in student assessments. Taking this output approach, researchers confirmed the frequently reported findings from reform process case studies that…

Before undergoing restructuring in 1991, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) was perceived as a model of bureaucratic inefficiency, an impediment to school reform. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated the typical operating procedures of the new KDE. Surveys were sent to a total of 293 randomly selected Kentucky public…

This paper is a broad review of ongoing and planned applications of the Internet and World Wide Web in higher education, and an analysis of key technical, educational, and broader social issues that these applications highlight. The report attempts to address the following issues about the Internet and the Web: (1) their potential for changing…

The hierarchical organizational structures that exist at community colleges and other institutions of higher education reflect the Late Industrial Era; as organizations make the transition to the Early Information Era, however, these rigid structures can hinder institutions' efforts to effectively utilize information and respond to changing…

The assumption that as teacher empowerment increases in restructuring schools teacher job satisfaction will increase was explored in a study using a large sample of classroom teachers working in schools initiating self-designed restructuring efforts. Study participants were 10,544 classroom teachers working in 307 Venture Capital Schools funded to…

In recent years, professional development for public school educators has come to be seen as a key component of school improvement plans, particularly large-scale systemic change programs. This Digest outlines what research and best practice suggest about effective professional development for elementary and secondary teachers working in…

Today, the division of large schools into subschools or subunits is often recommended as the answer to a number of problems in education. This paper examines the several forms of school-downsizing efforts and the somewhat diverse purposes for which they are being established. The data come from a review of literature and an evaluation of 22…

The Coalition of Essential Schools is a school reform movement based on nine principles formulated by Theodore R. Sizer on the basis of several years of research in secondary schools with the goal of creating thoughtful students who will become thoughtful adults. Coalition schools, which numbered 120 in 1992, represent a cross section of American…

School restructuring can be frightening for teachers, administrators, and even students as they give up familiar roles and are introduced to new paradigms. Educators affected by restructuring efforts often feel out of place, are reluctant to change, and anxious about the unknown. This paper describes approaches for helping school community members…

This digest briefly reviews the current movement to downsize urban schools to help educators decide whether and why to pursue such a move, and to indicate which models appear most promising. Research evidence is strong that small schools benefit the entire school community. Small schools are particularly beneficial for disadvantaged youth, who…

Many people believe that future reforms of education should focus on the primary mission of elementary and secondary schools and that these schools must be held more accountable for the academic performance of their students. This book brings together researchers from various disciplines--most notably economics, educational policy and management,…

Educators must combine a deeper analysis and understanding of the key concepts of change with a commitment and set of ideas for action. The articles in this book provide critical analysis and empirical and theoretical observations about successful school change. The articles explore the theories, leadership, and implementation strategies in…

Many recent educational reform efforts are based on the active involvement of administrators, educators, parents, and community members, all stakeholders in decision making. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated communication strategies used by shared decision-making teams in a small suburban school district in New York State…

In Kentucky, the administrative roles of the superintendent and the principal have received considerable attention from state-level policymakers since the passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Although there are comprehensive, ongoing assessment procedures for Kentucky principals and superintendents, there are no state-level…