This booklet proposes a different approach to understanding schools, school change, and why attempts at change run into so many difficulties. The text is divided into six parts. It examines issues in school reform and restructuring and offers what is called a Mineralogical Theory of school modifiability. This theory posits that there are eight…

Both social scientists and politicians agree that the way poverty is measured in the United States is inadequate. Noting that this metric influences our understanding of the extent of economic deprivation and influences the provision of social supports, this report presents various options to the current measurement and suggests a replacement for…

This paper draws on chaos theory to examine the potential of change within a living community. It focuses on secondary-school change in order to consider the divergent paths and the unexpected cultural adaptations that emerged when a Canadian school district required its secondary schools to revise their organizational models. Department heads…

This addendum, developed at the request of the U.S. Department of Education, provides information to schools, school districts, states, and others as they plan and implement comprehensive school-reform programs under the Obey-Porter Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) program. The CSRD legislation encourages schools to consider…

This paper examines the changing role--and important conceptions of leadership for that role--espoused by headteachers in British primary schools during a period of significant reform. It illustrates the interplay between structural effects on roles and emerging leadership perspectives found in the theoretical literature and develops a conceptual…

Play is essential to children's healthy development and learning, and toys are the tools of children's play. Noting that parents are constantly faced with decisions about what toys to buy and what toys to avoid, this guide is intended to help parents promote their children's creative and constructive play by making informed choices about toys, and…

This paper describes how implementation of four key aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act can move schools closer to raising achievement for all students. These four aspects--accountability and testing, flexible use of federal resources, school choice, and quality teachers and quality teaching--can allow schools and districts to realize the…

This paper examines the Merck Institute for Science Education (MISE). Begun in 1993, MISE had two stated goals: raise the interest, participation, and performance of public-school students in science; and demonstrate to other businesses that direct, focused involvement would hasten improvements in science teaching and learning in public schools.…

Noting that high-quality preschool increases the ability of low-income children to profit from elementary and secondary education, thereby increasing their high school graduation rate and generating economic and other returns for taxpayers, this report articulates and analyzes the economic benefits of providing a high-quality preschool education…

In their search for new ways to assess their agencies' success in working with children and families, child welfare administrators and senior managers are increasingly seeking regular and reliable sources of information that help them evaluate agency performance, make ongoing decisions, and provide an accurate picture for agency staff and external…

This report examines issues related to the cost effectiveness of whole school reform. The first section discusses the development of whole school reform models, criteria for model adoption, and challenges of whole school reform for evaluation. The second section, "Comparing Effectiveness," looks at models for evaluation (experimental,…

This special report of the Voices for Illinois Children argues that a refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC) would foster employment and reduce taxes for low-income Illinois families. The report maintains that many low-income working families and those beginning the transition from welfare to work confront ongoing poverty despite having…

This document is part of the New Expeditions series, published by the American Association for Community Colleges. It addresses technology, meeting the needs of a diverse student body, and remaining economically viable and locally responsible in a global community. The paper asserts that, as community colleges transform from teaching to learning…

This paper is based on a study of two high schools in Maine that achieved outstanding and consistent gains in English, math, and science over a 5-year period. Three strands of inquiry were used for the study: surveys, interviews, and observations. A multiple-perspective approach was used to integrate the information so as to evaluate the…

The Professional Development Leadership Academy supports states in transforming systems of professional development. This paper investigates accountability considerations that are necessary to determine the impact and results of professional development from a state systems perspective. The five areas of focus that comprise the Academy knowledge…