New American Schools (NAS) initiated whole-school reform in 1991 as a response to school reforms that had produced little change in the nation's test scores. Its mission is to help schools and districts raise student achievement using whole-school designs. NAS is in the scale-up phase of its effort in which designs are being diffused in partnering…

One of the most difficult challenges to effective substance abuse prevention is finding the right balance between maintaining the fidelity of a science-based model prevention program and promoting adaptation of that program to reflect the circumstances of the community where it is being implemented. This state-of-the-art review, prepared for the…

Implementation of school reform is a much-studied and often-discussed topic among researchers and educators alike. To hear what researchers have to say about this issue, questions were put to the Network of Researchers about what trends and patterns they see in schools implementing comprehensive school reform. Researchers agree that it is…

Today, school systems face the challenge of developing the next generation of school leaders. This means more than simply hiring promising new leaders--it requires developing an effective mentoring program. True leadership mentoring must be carefully crafted with highly educated mentors and prepared proteges. But what are the elements of a quality…

This article explores the barriers to successful implementation of organizational strategy. Drawing from the few key research works available, this article distills a list of core reasons for organizational strategy implementation failure and suggests several roles for Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals in addressing these barriers to…

This booklet provides information regarding the use of universal free breakfast programs and guidance to schools that wish to start such a program. Written for school officials and breakfast advocates, the guide discusses the benefits of a universal free school breakfast program, the options available, and basic operational issues, so that…

This volume describes Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) programs in the social sciences and humanities and documents their feasibility and desirability. It summarizes the lessons learned in the PFF initiative. The chapters are: (1) "A New Vision for Doctoral Preparation"; (2) "Strategies for Establishing a PFF Program"; (3) "Content of PFF Programs";…

This guide provides a map that schools can follow when implementing the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) program. It is hoped that CSRD will help schools foster higher standards and ensure that schools help students meet these standards. The booklet describes the goals and benchmarks that must be established for student…

The Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) Program was established through Public Law 105-78, the 1998 Department of Education Appropriations Act. CSRD provides financial assistance to underachieving schools implementing comprehensive school-reform programs that are based on reliable research and effective practices. It intends to…

Presents a proposed technology plan for Foothill-De Anza Community College district. The plan begins by outlining the college's proposed plan of action, which addresses four areas: the district's information infrastructure, faculty, administration, and student use of technology. The report then addresses issues related to technology in the…

This booklet is part of a series of reports on "hot topics" in education. It presents information intended to cut through the hype and hysteria that often surrounds the subject of school violence. The booklet offers an overview of current research on school violence prevention, outlines some practical ideas for use in the classroom, and…

Noting that professional development activities are a key component in the continuous process of improving instruction, this guide assists schools that are considering a visit to a Leadership and Learning Best Practice site (Illinois schools that have demonstrated a commitment to the reading best practices as identified by the Best Practices and…

This document reports on the new academic program review activities of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Two new sections of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland implemented in 1997 changed the academic program review process for institutions within the University System of Maryland (USM). The process now calls for a…

This paper describes Innovation Configuration (IC) Mapping as an approach for assessing the extent of implementation of a program. An IC Map is similar metaphorically to a road map in that it summarizes different ways of getting from one point to another. Each map consists of basic units, or components, that can be made operational in a number of…

Identifies problematic aspects of physician-educator interactions as well as ways to minimize such difficulties and facilitate professional interactions between physicians and educators. (JOW)