Although U.S. Education Secretary Lamar Alexander's strategy includes a track for today's students, emphasis has been on the new generation of schools advocated in the America 2000 plan. This article pleads for concrete steps to improve the education of today's students and recommends a book ("How to Shape Up Our Nation's Schools") to…

Introduces the term "orgware" and reviews the literature on managing technological innovation in instructional settings. Six areas of management concern are described, and advice on managing innovation and change is provided. (11 references) (GLR)

It is proposed that the need for collaboration between physicians and nurses is increasing with new health care needs and delivery systems, and that practitioners and educators must help improve the relationship. The phenomenon of collaboration, reasons for promoting it, barriers to achieving collaborative relationships, and change strategies are…

Middle school transition brings with it considerable change for those involved. Using corporate and industrial management theories and practices presents a rationale for wholesale and comprehensive educational change. (six references) (MLF)

Parent/family involvement is an important factor in successful schools or schools reporting improved student achievement. Interviews of 50 southern Illinois principals identified 10 highly successful strategies for improving such involvement, including parent/student switch days, parent/student fundraising, teacher/parent roundtable discussions,…

Outlines strategies for boosting student attendance and achievement in a South Carolina inner-city school district. Attendance incentive programs, accompanied by numerous inschool activities and at-home visits, were successful. The achievement-improvement program featured a principal-incentive component, strategies to encourage staff ownership and…

This article identifies world trends affecting higher education and argues that higher education in the United States needs foreign students for economic reasons and must provide them with high quality education at a reasonable cost. If not, they may either go elsewhere or stay home, finding their own higher education better and/or less expensive.…

Investigated impact of participation in cultural awareness program on racial attitudes and social behaviors of racially diverse college students (n=75). Results suggest that race may account for more differences in racial attitudes and social behaviors than sensitivity training, and moreover, students may drop out of similar programs without…

It is argued that, although comparing student achievement in different countries can inform the debate about American schools, direct comparison is inappropriate because of (1) differing visions of childhood in different nations; (2) time and achievement differences; (3) sampling problems; (4) differing opportunities to learn test content; (5)…

Distinguishes among six strategies of community change, identifies citizen participation as only one of several approaches, and challenges practitioners to fit the strategy to their situation and determine which is most apt to empower their community. (Author/JOW)

Describes how one high school teacher used journal writing and a paper to focus students awareness on prejudice and lack of human compassion in their own school. (SR)

Addresses some of the frustrations and challenges teachers and administrators encounter as they seek to make changes in their literacy programs. Discusses new directions, the issues, and ideas to consider in three areas of concern: moving from basals to authentic literature; addressing concerns about phonics, grammar, and spelling; and bridging…

Demonstrates how rebellion and opposition can be recast as signs of inner strength and resilience and documents strategies for reclaiming oppositional youth. Describes intervention with Kevin (from "My Independence Day," this issue) who had been removed from multiple treatment placements, and explains strategies for empowering oppositional youth.…

Since 1989, supreme courts in 12 states have declared their education finance systems unconstitutional. Numerous states are involved in litigation. State courts are presently attempting to close the gap between the best- and worst-financed education systems, focus on disparities in substantive education content, and achieve equity and adequacy…

A corporate leader argues that higher education leaders must be prepared to manage change, and suggests focusing on results, communicating straight and openly, and delegating responsibility. An institutionwide communication program and greater efficiency are key elements in management change. (MSE)