Argues community colleges must employ Total Quality Management (TQM) to enhance student learning and faculty productivity and not just in terms of administrative functions. Describes characteristics and requirements of TQM, and details its uses and advantages in classroom assessment of student performance, emphasizing faculty development and the…

This policy statement adopted by American Federation of Teachers delegates in the summer of 1992 discusses two great tasks for U.S. education: improving the traditional model of education, while creating a different kind of learning institution to replace the traditional school. How to proceed in both areas is outlined. (SLD)

Considers educational technology's role in designing effective instruction. Instructional design that supports systematic determination of instructional goals and methods for accomplishing those goals and for assessing success requires consideration of four variables associated with instruction: (1) learner characteristics; (2) learning task; (3)…

Discusses recent economic and political changes in Czechoslovakia and their impact on the nation's educational system. Reviews surveys of parent attitudes toward educational goals and their expectations for their children. Includes four tables containing information about Czechoslovakian education and parental attitudes. (CFR)

Explores the successful implementation of an improvement to the Nigerian secondary education system after departing from the inherited British system. Nigeria moved toward the American model of junior and senior secondary education. College preparatory and vocational education are being complemented by general education for all. (SLD)

Based on a session at the 1990 annual conference of the American Society for Information Science (ASIS), this issue presents 14 articles that discuss innovations in curriculum and instructional methods in information science and how to share them internationally, especially with developing countries. Highlights include distance education and the…

The principal of Samuel Gompers Fine Arts Option School in Chicago (Illinois) has transformed the culture and atmosphere through emphasizing strong leadership, cracking down on safety issues, developing programs of which the whole school could be proud, emphasizing excellence, and encouraging community involvement. (JB)

Calls for education improvement are often predicated on a decline in U.S. education. Past U.S. high school students' knowledge is examined through U.S. history test data from 1915 to 1925 and national achievement test data for 1932 to 1965. Evidence does not support a decline in student knowledge. (SLD)

Suggests new directions in parent involvement emerging in school districts across the country, identifying and analyzing 18 recently developed programs or reforms emphasizing effective parental involvement. Ten programs help parents support children's development, and eight define parent involvement as a central focus of school improvement or…

A discussion of recent trends in state educational reform stresses the importance of addressing two challenges: teaching all students higher order thinking and developing more systematic, coherent policies. The article describes the challenges, examines how state policies in the 1980s addressed them and how districts responded, and suggests future…

A decade after the initiation of the current major education reform movement, evidence from the education community suggests that, although progress is being made, it is slow. Successful reform will require that K-12 teaching and teacher education programs be more integrally linked and that efforts be comprehensive and sustainable. (MSE)

Inferences that spending money (high average per pupil expenditure) does not improve education are questioned because of obvious differences in cost of living; in-state differences; differences in costs and demographic differences; and comparing average measures with measures from a nonrandom sample (Scholastic Aptitude Test scores). (SLD)

Discusses questions of school climate and parental involvement that must be considered if general education is to assume the responsibility of educating African-American students with special needs. Practical suggestions are given for professionals deciding the proper place to educate African Americans with special needs. (SLD)

The Chicago (Illinois) public school system has been undergoing a major restructuring that has shifted responsibility for running the schools to local school councils. The nine articles of this issue bring together opinions and research of a diverse group of authors with multiple perspectives on the effort. (SLD)

Proposes ways to ensure teacher quality through professionalizing teacher hiring and dismissal policies. State and local education authorities must stop undercutting current standards and must end emergency credentials and the misassignment of teachers. Suggests ways to accommodate teacher shortages until additional qualified teachers are found.…