Two normative interpretations, professionalism and democracy, are advanced for research that argues for such school reform as decentralized management, a team approach to school operation, and more autonomy for teachers. It is argued that a democratic conception is distinguishable from, and preferable to, a conception of teachers as professionals.…

Leadership in the restructured school is provided by many individuals; teachers function as a community of scholars helping one another through discussions, coaching, and reflective activity. School leaders must acquire specific skills in certain areas, including vision setting, group process, conflict resolution, curriculum and instruction, and…

Examines the School Development Program of James Comer, first essayed in two predominantly Black New Haven (Connecticut) elementary schools. His theories of school improvement stress stability, autonomy, institutional loyalty, warmth of daily interaction, and other elements present in Black families and communities in prior decades. (DM)

This bibliography for school library media specialists lists periodical articles published in 1992 in the areas of information service; instructional consulting; management; teaching; literary consulting; notable authors, illustrators, and librarians; teaching; school reform; and the White Conference on Library and Information Services. (LRW)

Describes teachers' efforts at a New Jersey middle school to learn alternative assessment strategies and implement a portfolio system. As they became more student-centered and interdisciplinary colleagues, these teachers realized they needed new student assessment tools. Portfolio neophytes are advised to start small and simple, using a limited…

Describes Invitational Education theory, illustrates it, and describes its application with seven middle schools. Invitational Education is based on the interrelationships among people, places, policies, processes, and programs. Ways in which the Invitational Education process differs from the usual "factory" approach to education are…

Examines causes, strategies, and dynamics of U.S. excellence-era educational reforms, assessing economic, social, and political reform pressures. Examines major governmental, professional, citizen, and market policies promulgated across three promising, if problematic, reform periods characterized as intensification, restructuring, and reformation…

Reform in Chicago's public schools has involved decentralizing decision-making to parent-dominated Local School Councils (LSCs). School data are analyzed to determine what aspects of LSC governance matter for student achievement. Concludes that training LSCs might be important for their functioning and lead to higher student achievement. An…

Recounts the restructuring and resulting survival of Park University (Missouri) over the last decade. A process of evaluating the university's competitive strategy resulted in changes in tuition pricing; development of the Park School of Distance Learning, which serves primarily military installations; minority student marketing; and development…

Draws on ongoing case studies of women's initiations of elementary collaborative principalships to discuss dilemmas encountered within the contradictory environment of "centralized decentralization" in New Zealand. Accountability issues have emerged as significant in one school, as the women and their board have been radically…

A case study of a large nonselective urban high school in Baltimore (Maryland) describes the design and implementation of a comprehensive package of school reforms, the Talent Development Model with Career Academies. Qualitative and quantitative evidence is provided on significant improvements in school climate, student attendance, promotion…

Briefly describes federal legislation, federally funded programs, and publications supporting the inclusion of limited-English-speaking (LEP) programs in schoolwide programs. Includes a list of regional, state, and national sources of assistance in designing programs for language-minority students. Notes the growing trend toward systemic inclusion…

Statistical sources demonstrate negative effects on educational spending in Canada in the 1990s, due to policies adopted in response to a severe recession and ballooning federal and provincial deficits. Massive restructuring (centralization and district consolidation) is occurring to increase efficiency. Retrenchment will probably be completed by…

Examines the invention of school effectiveness as a specific curriculum and pedagogical discourse that has captivated researchers, policymakers, and politicians. Considers school-effectiveness research methodology, politics, and underlying epistemological assumptions. Explores the dilemmas confronting inclusive education research. The concepts of…

This article reviews five frequently cited attributes of effective schools, presents steps in creating significant schools, considers the importance and role of talent development, and describes relevant applications of the Creative Problem Solving framework to synthesize school improvement and talent development efforts. (DB)