The Palos Heights School District, Illinois, eliminated neighborhood elementary schools in favor of a primary (K-2), intermediate (3-5), and middle school (6-8) configuration. Details the strategies for handling public opposition. (MLF)

Integrated service centers have the potential to improve academic achievement in public schools. In this model, schools and community service agencies share spaces and programs and collaborate in planning. Issues of philosophy, organizational structure, management, responsibilities, and funding must be considered in their development. (SK)

Choice theory does not adequately account for the relationship between private schools' success and public school performance. School-choice theory failed every empirical test the authors administered. Religion and a desire for racial segregation, not poor public-school performance, appear to be driving increased private-school enrollment. (MLH)

A clear set of shared values acts as an organizational and inspirational force in educational institutions. Recently, British schools have been experiencing conflict between their values and those of the National Curriculum. This article explores the nature of values, proposes a framework for assessing values in schools, and suggests how conflicts…

Like most other reform endeavors, the current restructuring movement may fail. Advocates often oversimplify restructuring, overlooking serious underlying issues, such as the politics of organizational change, and ingrained U.S. schooling characteristics, including inclusiveness, deep structure, knowledge industry influences, growth of state power,…

Forming teams is the logical first step in the transition to middle school from junior high school. Offers 10 questions that middle-level educators should ask as they embark upon this new venture of interdisciplinary teaming. (13 references) (MLF)

Proposes that the organizational transition period of a school's restructuring requires special attention and that major responsibility for transition management should rest with teachers. Illustrates the dilemmas and frustrations of the transition period with a fictional case. Discusses special demands on the organization, teacher leadership for…

Outlines the differing educational philosophies, policies, and organizational structures of the two Germanies, from nursery to university level. Examines future prospects for integrating both institutions and personnel. Although unification was made possible by the former East Germans, they and their institutions must make the greater adaptation…

Finds that teachers' professional efficacy is related to the environment in which they practice. Explains higher levels of efficacy in Catholic schools by organizational differences. Cites principal leadership and communal organization as essential to teacher satisfaction. Suggests fostering cooperative environments and reasonable teacher autonomy…

Shows that action research and process consultation methodologies used in the organizational development (OD) field are vital to our changing educational culture. Instead of diagnosing and prescribing solutions, the OD consultant teaches clients (schools) how to make appropriate interventions for specific change objectives. (12 references) (MLH)

Because schools are staggering under responsibilities abdicated by family, community, church, and industry, they are failing to educate. Two schools are necessary: the academic school, with instruction devoted exclusively to the arts and sciences; and an afterhours parallel school providing sports and extracurricular activities, social services,…

In Great Britain, recent declarations of the Department of Education and Science and the National Curriculum Council have suggested that the National Curriculum will banish continuity difficulties for students transferring from primary to secondary schooling. The National Curriculum, however, does not address the main issue--lack of communication…

A summary of 64 research studies between 1968 and 1990 clearly support using nongraded/continuous progress programs. Students in nongraded settings do as well as or better than students in traditional self-contained classes. R.E. Slavin's sidebar argues for keeping nongraded schools simple. Pavan's sidebar calls nongradedness a philosophy not just…

Addresses conflicts concerning the structure of the educational system, ideological fixations, and the relationship between the federal and state governments in Germany. Describes the politics surrounding German educational policy. Suggests that the most recent problem analysis is a useful guideline even though it did not resolve the disputes over…

Consent engineering is a consultative approach used by public policy-makers to secure the legitimacy of proposed policy changes by involving representative interest groups in decision making. Using the example of five reorganizing secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, this article outlines the circumstances obviating consent engineering at the…