Student achievement needs to rise much faster than resources to attain high levels of cognitive achievement for all. The article discusses the nature of funding changes, changes in achievement, productivity problems, central notions of systemic reform (decentralized management), and the new type of school finance policy structure. (SM)

Responses from 682 members of school-based leadership councils in Los Angeles (California) demonstrate how a council's decision-making quality is affected by 5 dimensions of council diversity. Diversity of role and tenure is related to decision-making quality, but ethnic and gender diversity and diversity in experience are not. (SLD)

Raises philosophical and theoretical issues (concerning leadership, productivity, change, adequacy, equity) that must be addressed for school-based management to succeed. Structural changes do not always produce increased autonomy for those at lower organizational levels; nor does leadership naturally evolve that empowers others. Most principals…

This article reviews reasons behind the full inclusion movement, concerns that have been raised about full inclusion, and elements necessary to implement successful inclusion programs. The efforts of a southwestern elementary school staff to implement inclusive education for students from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds and students…

Provides an overview of the Whole Village Project in Boston (Massachusetts), a two-year project that fosters partnerships among parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to bring about comprehensive reform in these urban schools. Each school identified its own most urgent problem and then developed a comprehensive approach through…

Describes a collaborative, interdisciplinary curriculum project, the QUEST Program, at Northampton (Massachusetts) High School. The program was embraced by school staff and collaboratively designed with Smith College faculty. The article examines roadblocks and requirements to educational change within QUEST and discusses problems with instituting…

The Goals 2000 Act focuses on local decisions to improve education. The challenge for school business administrators will be to meet the changes in the way schools and districts operate in the areas of linking social services, budgeting, and purchasing. Lists the eight goals of the act, along with the objectives for measuring achievement of each…

Drawing on research that considers out-of-school conditions, in-school conditions, and transformational leadership, the article constructs a strategy for building teachers' commitment to change, demonstrating that alterability of variables by facilitators of teacher commitment can positively influence curriculum reform. Findings explaining…

Discusses the media literacy movement, including "infotainment" and "tabloidism," talk radio and religious broadcasting, media violence, the health crisis and media's influence on adolescents, critical thinking and reflective teaching, teacher training and institutional support, school restructuring and Goals 2000, and…

Examined the priorities in early childhood education program development from the perspectives of school staff and families. The results revealed important differences between the staff and family perspectives and indicated a need for greater staff training in the processes of delivering relationship-based, consumer-driven family services, and in…

One fiscally poor elementary school created a place for quality work by staff and maintained the standards for many years through various ongoing teacher development activities. An essential factor in developing the school culture was believing that teachers must be honored, supported, and trusted before they could honor the students. (SM)

Discusses the importance of teacher development in achieving fundamental school change, and argues that such change occurs best when teachers collaborate to raise student achievement levels. The article provides an account of the frustrations and successes of teachers in a Rhode Island reform effort. (GR)

The trend in special education toward integrating students with disabilities into general education schools and classrooms and the trend in general education toward systematic reorganization of school governance structures, policy, and resource utilization present an opportunity for amalgamation of these viewpoints through broad-based, school…

Discusses the process of educational change at a small rural elementary school in Gosport, Indiana. A design team made up of school staff and community representatives is explained, and design team activities and presentations are described. The importance of effective communication is emphasized, and suggestions for community involvement are…

A school superintendent describes the restructuring in his Springfield (Massachusetts) school district. The effort to desegregate from the perspectives of race, color, ethnic background, and gender has involved organizational, pedagogical, social, attitudinal, and political transformation. Emphasis is given to the district's choice system. (SLD)