Offers to help new teachers adjust to a first job. Proposes bringing to the job the most complete and practical body of knowledge possible, including knowledge of the subject, the situation, and the self. Suggests areas in which the new teacher must seek out information about policies and resources of the particular school. (DK)

A survey of 70 social work programs found increasing numbers of field placements in private for-profit organizations, mostly hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient health care agencies. Geographic location appears to be linked to policy on such placements. More attention to site selection and curriculum are recommended as this trend grows. (MSE)

Offers reflections and accounts of personal experiences regarding the complexities of the relationship between early childhood education and the public schools. Also considers the history of this relationship. (LB)

A federal judge has ordered the University of New Hampshire to end a professor's suspension, after ruling that his classroom comments did not amount to sexual harassment. The university had claimed the teacher violated institutional sexual-harassment policy by creating a classroom environment hostile to women. (MSE)

Higher education is ambivalent toward faculty development. Today's faculty development programs seem to be a product of 1960s reform movements, the graying of the professoriate, and funding from outside agencies. The strongest programs have visible institutional commitment and leadership support. (MSE)

Describes research conducted by Boston University's School of Education and the Boston-based Institute for Responsive Education. Schools (n=42) that reach out to involve families and communities were studied. The focus was activity levels/types, emerging strategies, program gaps, program comprehensiveness, evaluation, formal policies, and costs of…

Accommodating older students in teacher education requires changes in course scheduling and admission policies, using paid internships for student teaching, selecting master teachers comfortable with mentoring older students, and making special financial, child care, and other arrangements to meet individual circumstances. (SK)

Provides a point/counterpoint investigation into appropriateness of character education as a function of public schools. Lickona describes the implementation and success of various character education curricula across the country, while Skillen suggests that public schools may not be sufficiently pluralistic in their approach to support such…

Addresses the problems of racism in schools and reviews the historical and contemporary context of the policies and programs to reduce it. Discusses obstacles and challenges to implementing effective antiracist policies and programs. Presents strategies that address these challenges from a systems and an ecological approach. (MKA)

In the context of copyright law, this article analyzes the conflict between faculty and institutions over ownership of digital curricular materials. Suggests that colleges consult with faculty to develop policies for allocating ownership and licensing rights in a way that allows all to benefit. (JDI)

Presents the legal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in disciplining students with disabilities, describes IDEA's requirement that school officials address student problem behavior in the Individualized Education Program, and offers recommendations regarding the formation of school district policies and…

A study used 1994-95 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System data to estimate cost functions for postsecondary education institutions, focusing on how factors such as enrollment levels, location, research intensity, and faculty characteristics influence institutional costs. Many of these relationships have direct implications for reducing…

In the five years since most states passed zero-tolerance legislation, results have been moderately successful. Such policies can work under four conditions: clear consequences for misbehavior, collaborative development by all stakeholding agencies, knowledge of other states' experience, and integration of sequential and comprehensive…

In Long Beach, California, a courageous, communitywide conversation devised a new approach to enforcing K-8 promotion standards. Retention programs will not be a repeat of services, but offer retained children a significantly different academic experience. Retention criteria will comprise multiple measures, based on proficiency with content…

A former superintendent explains the value of teamwork for solving problems involving bus passes, budgets, and faculty attrition. His continuous-quality-improvement initiatives sparked creative impulses while underscoring the importance of redesigning work procedures and giving people the time and encouragement to be inventive. (MLH)