Noting that within the area of literacy, writing is a young area of study, this research report looks at the impact of the national Center for the Study of Writing and Literacy's 10 years of sustained research. The paper first considers how Center research projects and activities have been tied together to address three interlocking sets of…

This report contains the findings of two task forces established during 1994 by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence: (1) the Task Force on Improving Kentucky Schools; and (2) the Task Force on Restructuring Time and Learning. The task forces, comprised of parents and business members of the Prichard Committee, examined key elements of…

Partnering for Elementary Environmental Science, a professional development program developed to enhance teachers' skills and content knowledge in science education, pairs classroom teachers with resource professionals for one year of collaborative instruction. This paper reports part of the evaluation and research related to the program.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the structure or patterning of supervisor and supervisee verbal interaction during supervision is enhanced or moderated by: (1) the problem severity (degree of impairment and level of distress of the client); (2) the anxiety of the supervisee and supervisor toward the client and toward…

The cohort concept has recently been reconsidered in response to pressures for reform in school-leadership preparation programs. A cohort is defined as a group of students who engage in a program of studies together. Surveys sent to 37 institutions across the United States that use cohort models in their administrator-preparation courses elicited…

The uncertain context of educational practice caused by reform proposals has created a dilemma for architects of educational-administration programs. If program designers do not respond positively to reform movements, they may fail to equip beginning administrators with the necessary knowledge and skills. On the other hand, if the preparation…

This newsletter provides examples from four small, rural school districts of how innovative superintendents plan and provide resources and provide staff development, which are two of the six ways that school administrators effect change. The superintendents are located in a small poor district in the Arkansas Mississippi Delta region, a primarily…

As part of the Child Care Aware initiative's 5-year process evaluation, this report describes the findings of a survey of 2,095 family child care providers, concerning the type of training they received through the initiative and issues related to accreditation and professionalism. Child Care Aware was sponsored in community sites, promoting the…

This document reports on a project to identify and analyze the desire for professional collegiality and concerns about increasing alienation among members of the Queensland Institute for Educational Administration (QIEA). From a 3-phase workshop involving over 500 participants, 7 major issues were identified: (1) complexity of teaching and…

A national survey of more than 800 teachers found that these teachers' top reason for participating in professional development is to bolster their ability to help students learn; almost 3 in 4 said they engage in professional growth to improve student achievement; and a majority (55 percent) said they participate in professional development to…

The unique bond between mentors and mentees is a complex dyad with unusual strength and trust. It is a relationship of special importance to African American graduate students, who have cited mentor relationships as vital to their persistence in graduate school. African American graduate students do face great difficulties in finding adequate…

Through a series of organizational and instructional changes, comprehensive planning aims to make it possible for all children to reach the same high academic standards. Educators and parents of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, as well as other members of tribal communities, must participate in this planning to ensure that the…

Couselor credentialing is a way to symbolize professionalism and high standards to the public. Its purpose is to identify counselors who are at least minimally qualified to provide counseling services. This special digest collection on credentialing counselors covers many aspects of legislation, methods, and special concerns about credentialing.…

The decline in the number of Catholic sisters, brothers, and priests serving as teachers and administrators in Catholic schools has been accompanied by an increase in the number of men and women educators from the laity. This handbook presents guidelines for preparing the laity to teach and administer effectively in Catholic schools. Specifically,…

Although an underrepresentation of women in educational administration persists, the reasons for the disparity have changed over the past 30 years. This book presents findings of a study that examined successful women administrators' insights and viewpoints regarding career achievement and leadership. Phase 1 of the study surveyed 151 women…