Partners in Policymaking is an ongoing, federally funded empowerment and self-advocacy education program for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Minnesota which is being replicated in other states. A survey of 130 program graduates indicated satisfaction with the program and the presence of many active citizen…

The necessary conditions for successful shared decision making include school board and administrative affirmation, tolerance for diversity, teacher and administrator training, and collegial support. Involving teachers in decision making requires four implementation phases: readiness, experimentation, refinement through trial and error, and…

Asserts that a student-writing portfolio can be a powerful tool for writing instruction. Describes how students compile a portfolio, and the types of writing included. Discusses the use of collaboration in the writing process and methods of assessment. (PRA)

A teacher's identity is shaped by direct work with individual students, not by paperwork or competitive tasks. Teacher empowerment is grounded in teacher motivation, with emphasis on teacher-student relationships. Empowerment depends on relating new roles and decision-making tasks to classroom work, recognizing teachers for success with difficult…

Scientific management and hierarchical accountability tend to destroy dialogue and issue ideas as orders to be obeyed. Instructional technology packages can actually enslave teachers. The emendation or feedback loop built into all instructional systems should allow educators to alter design in the context of practice and help technologists design…

Principals who are transformative leaders consistently use three building blocks to promote school success: a clear, unified purpose; a common cultural perspective; and a constant push for improvement. In one study, an opinionated, assertive middle school principal; a nurturing, supportive principal; and a high-energy, charismatic principal all…

Explains the importance of developing empowered employees, outlines stages of supervisory growth from administrator to coach, defines sources of the supervisory power base, explores differences between traditional and empowered thinking in job design, and describes how to build an organizational learning culture. (SK)

The advantages and disadvantages of placing outside staff to represent international aid agencies in developing countries' service programs for blind persons are explored. Alternative models are offered, and sustainability through empowerment is presented as an approach to ensure long-term benefits from the services offered by the international…

Addresses shift from deficit to empowerment model in work with families. Describes shift in human services "assistance" model from "doing to" to "doing with," from "power over" to "power with," and from "teaching the client" to "collaborative learning." Contends that new model will replace fragmented, deficit-oriented crisis intervention with…

A study surveyed 85 Israeli individuals with disabilities who volunteered in organizations for people with disabilities in relation to three components of empowerment: family, services, and community. Three organizational factors (patterns of activity in organization, representation, and participation in decision making) and two personal factors…

To determine if governance structures affected perceptions of teacher empowerment, 55 teachers completed the Teacher Perception Survey. Subjects were from two matched Missouri elementary schools with differing organizational structures and administrative philosophies. Unlike the traditional model, an Accelerated School model strongly influenced…

Suggests that there is a strong affinity between multicultural and theater education. Argues that, through drama and theater, individuals can acquire a clearer visualization and deeper understanding of the topics, issues, themes, and concepts of multicultural education. Suggests that drama might even become a laboratory for multicultural living.…

Since vision, imagination, and a passion for justice are in short supply, educators must transcend traditional technical/rational approaches and create space for artists' prophetic voices to emerge. Empowering the voices of imagination through the arts will help renew the metaphysical dimension of educators' work. (27 references) (MLH)

As educators introduce new technology into a district, school, or classroom, it is important to take advantage of children's natural ability, enthusiasm, and willingness to master new skills. Certain activities such as journal writing, picture-digitizing projects, and designated student experts help place the power of technology squarely in…

Describes the Alternative Education Program for high-risk students at the Michigan School for the Deaf. Key program components include monitoring each student through a team approach and instituting a behavior-management program. Outcomes for seven students over a two-year period are reported. (DB)