Teachers and administrators were surveyed to determine the extent to which AP Vertical Teams for English were implemented in schools. Results indicate that even though the goals of the AP Vertical Teams were only partially realized, there was some positive impact on student exposure to Pre-AP instruction and AP courses and student performance on…

The organization and operations of an evaluation unit in a local governmental agency are presented. How local evaluation units manage (1) external relations (to obtain funding, to gain access to data sources, and encourage evaluation use) and (2) internal operations (including staffing, communication, data collection, and analysis) are described.…

Since Franco's death in 1975, one of Spain's most pressing problems has been how to encourage regional autonomy without destroying national unity. This paper considers how two regional groups--the Catalans and the Basques--are using the schools to promote use of their traditional languages and to strengthen ethnic identity. (Author/SJL)

This case study of the Toronto Board of Education's secondary system thoroughly analyzes barriers to implementing antiracist education in a large, ethnically diverse education district. Findings highlight implementation difficulties, including poor leadership, lack of minorities in key positions, informal resistance, and decentralized decision…

The three-year Miami University (Ohio) project to develop teaching portfolios is described. The department-based approach acknowledges that departments and disciplines have different cultures, and that departments are where rewards are determined. Issues in portfolio development and use, including benefits and problems, are discussed and…

Because few teachers in Qwaqwa, South Africa know how to use computers and many view computers with disdain, the government mandated that schools create computer/media centers in schools. Describes Qwaqwa; its educational system; and the Boitjhorisong Inservice Training Centre. Discusses program implementation, and the training of clerical staff,…

Describes a qualitative evaluation of an elementary schoolwide computer implementation project. Highlights include the use of interviews, questionnaires, and surveys with teachers, students, and parents; changes in teacher attitudes and roles, classroom management, and classroom climate; and a model for creating a community of learners through the…

College and university learning communities build a sense of group identity. Institutions are establishing them for varied purposes and student populations, including first-year interest groups, general education core courses, gateway courses, developmental and basic studies, honors programs, and work in the major or minor. For implementation,…

Hunter College librarians and faculty collaborated in an interdisciplinary honors survey designed to familiarize undergraduates with electronic research tools and with statistical, geographical, desktop publishing, and graphics software. Participating librarians cited consumption of staff time, lack of a chain of command, and communications…

Interviews and teacher and principal surveys examined how Toronto (Canada) principals have responded to equity-based education initiatives. Describes barriers to implementation in secondary schools and offers strategies for making principals more effective in this area. Concludes that the principal's character and capacity to lead, combined with…

Discussion of teacher training for educational technology highlights a program developed by the Houston Independent School District to provide inservice training for teachers. Continuous needs assessment and the need for evaluation are emphasized, and technology planning and implementation for the present day and for the future are discussed.…

The reform legislation in the State of Illinois requires each district to articulate learner outcomes in six areas of education. Separate provisions of the law require increased assessment and reporting by the states and local districts. Deficiencies in the reform program, and the State Board of Education's implementation of the program, are…

Examines the origins and conceptualization of the social studies movement in Africa, and describes the practice of social studies and its current status. Concludes that although social studies has some unique problems due to the nature of the subject matter, it is more relevant to the lives of African children than traditional curricula. (LS)

Describes a collaborative project between California State University, Los Angeles, and an urban elementary school that fostered conditions for parent involvement in the school and home-school cooperation. Workshops, English classes, and a parent mentor program were features of the successful effort. (SLD)

Two different approaches to community involvement in the schools are demonstrated by participants in the School-Community Connection initiative of the Institute for Responsive Education. The Wisconsin school district connects students to the outside environment, while the Hawaii district brings supportive networks into the school to nurture…