This essay suggests that Berry is a radical thinker; it discusses his critiques of the current state of education and presents his constructive educational proposals for transforming residents of modern societies into responsible postmodern human community dwellers, examining his reflections and identifying intellectual traditions and literary…

With decentralization and school-based management, central office personnel assume new roles as experts and brokers in staff development. The article examines the impact of decentralization and staff development, focusing on how central office personnel must relearn how to do business, preparing central office staff, and the role of staff…

The approach of the School without Walls illustrates how collaborative curriculum can empower students and can address the problem that our schools do little to change power relations between students of elite families and those of minorities and low socioeconomic status. Data from a study of the school's student outcomes and a national study of…

Responds to an article suggesting that teacher empowerment and not systemic restructuring is necessary for effective integration of information technologies in public schools. This paper suggests that, while teachers are central to educational changes, even more essential is a fundamental shift to a new system of learning and away from treating…

Discusses total quality management as a holistic model of improvement for education which can be integrated with other school restructuring models. Elements of the model are explained, including administrative support, needs assessments, quality specifications, strategic planning, and progress assessments, both formative and summative; and three…

Presents the story of a research team's efforts to conduct a multisite case study of 10 racially mixed schools engaged in trying to reduce ability grouping or tracking. When case boundaries are coconstructed with the help of respondents they become a finding of interest as well as a methodological approach. (SLD)

Addresses several issues related to federal policy and reform. Discusses the possible role of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act in promoting better outcomes for students with disabilities, and other federal policy options for achieving better educational outcomes. Argues for federal policies that balance centralized regulation and accountability…

Describes a consensus-building meeting, in which stakeholders representing students attending alternative schools, teachers and directors from alternative schools, high school teachers, directors of special education, and university teacher trainers participated. Participants reviewed and reached agreement on important indicators of educational…

This paper presents educational collaboration as a structured process and interactive relationship among individuals that focuses on multiple outcomes in a school's organizational structures. The paper describes characteristics of a collaborative school and the professional behaviors that support collaboration; outlines strategies that facilitate…

Presents a new image of education, called Learning Sphere 2000, which is emerging from the educational needs of an information society. Features of this paradigm are explained, including learning experiences, teacher roles, clusters of students and teachers as schools, learning centers, learning contracts, developmental levels, children with…

Discusses anthropology's role in policy-relevant educational research, drawing on experiences in evaluating Chicago (Illinois) city schools' restructuring. Questions raised by case studies in school restructuring include qualitative researchers' role in studying educational policy, issues of objectivity in policy research, and networking…

Describes approaches for solving the problem of students' declining motivation and performance when they move to middle-level schools. Urges educators to examine school policies, practices, and procedures, and to make changes that will make it very clear to students that effort, challenge, improvement, and mastery are the goals of schooling. (16…

One of five articles on professional development schools in this theme issue. Naturalistic research methods were used to identify the characteristics that supported changes in professional development initiatives, restructuring, and teaching and learning in Crescentview School (Michigan), a multicultural, multilingual, elementary professional…

Muhlenberg College (Pennsylvania) has refocused its efforts on serving student needs and being perceived as a substantial value for the tuition charged. A merit-pay plan rewards faculty and administrators demonstrating extraordinary concern for and commitment to students. (MSE)

Explains why desegregation is an important practice that must not be allowed to lapse and discusses some pressures that have often made it less than satisfactory for African American children in local contexts and national patterns. Also discusses magnet schools as a tool that can help or hurt. (SLD)