Discusses internal and external change agents' roles in school improvement, drawing on England's Moving Schools project. Effective external agents or cadres work not just in the school, but in the classroom. Conceptual organizing, a whole-school viewpoint, commitment to action, and teacher development linkages are key to supporting cadres.…

Examined the political rise and fall of the Louisiana Teacher Evaluation Program (LATEP), the centerpiece of the state's educational reform efforts. Study findings suggest that the political problems encountered by LATEP arose from competing program theories and competing implementation theories. Findings underscore the pitfalls associated with…

A case study of three programs in British secondary schools (Somerset Thinking Skills, Instrumental Enrichment, and Philosophy for Children) affirmed the difficulty arising from the lack of immediate concrete outcomes from thinking-skills lessons. Teachers' perceptions had a significant influence on effective implementation of these programs. (SK)

Describes the significant challenges encountered during the implementation of the Integrated Information Center (IIC) at the University of Minnesota. These challenges were of three kinds: (1) those in the environment and beyond the control of the project; (2) those in the mission of the project; and (3) those inherent in the design of the IIC.…

Describes the implementation in the Fall River (Massachusetts) Diocese of "AIDS and the Arts," an elementary school intervention program designed to increase students' decision-making capacity, broaden their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and teach responsible social behaviors. (YKH)

Describes five case studies of high-performing public schools that have organized professional resources in innovative ways. Outlines principles of successful resource allocation. Presents a framework and methodology for examining a school's current use of resources. (MAK)

Purchasing custom-made desks with durable glass tops to house computers and double as student work space solved the problem of how to squeeze in additional classroom computers at Johnson Park Elementary School in Princeton, New Jersey. This article describes a K-5 grade school's efforts to overcome barriers to integrating technology. (PEN)

This discussion of a lack of leadership bench strength and succession strategies to replace leaders in an organization focuses on the need to create a learning environment that supports development and career progression. Topics include organizational changes; transferring training into the work environment; a model for a development cycle; and…

Explores the concept of full-service schools for students at risk, identifying five specific obstacles or cautions that are especially important to consider when full-service schools are being developed. Such schools require understanding of the collaboration process and willingness to make major commitments in time and resources. (SLD)

Outlines the development of a hybrid Internet course (Armor Officer Advanced Course) for the Army, highlighting front-end analysis validating training objectives, descriptions of course domain and traditional course (military decision-making process); description and implementation of a hybrid course using automated instruction and…

Describes the implementation and evaluation of the partnership between the University of Alberta, Fairview College, and Kayas Cultural College offering synchronized, multipoint video conferencing for introductory faculty of arts courses in remote regions of Alberta, Canada. Aboriginals constituted 70% of the students in the first year. Proposes a…

Summarizes results of a 1997 survey of state and local Title I educators who are implementing the 1994 Title I reauthorization. Data indicate that the five major themes have been implemented. Results are compared to the previous year's survey and recommendations are offered for future research areas and future funding allocations. (MMU)

A powerful vision can help a school focus its values and reach beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary. No matter how well-formulated a vision can fail if inappropriate or when poorly communicated or implemented. A Northeastern Regional Lab document entitled "The Walk" can prompt school community members' reflective thinking in the…

Compares teacher and student perceptions about a block scheduling system operating in two rural Alabama high schools since 1995 to 1996. Surveys completed by 481 students and 60 teachers indicated that both groups supported the new schedule. However, teachers' attitudes were more positive than their students'. Fully 58% of the students wanted…

A four-year study evaluated how establishing, teaching, and reinforcing schoolwide rules and routines and systematically responding to disruptive behavior affected the number of formal office disciplinary referrals in one elementary school. Results revealed that establishing clear standards and having in place a systematic response to disruptive…