The purpose of this manual is to support school districts and schools in developing diverse and equitable magnet programs. It is intended to help stakeholders during the planning phases of developing new magnet schools or during the revision or expansion of existing magnet schools. The manual focuses on: (1) Why districts should consider…

This manual was written to help guide education stakeholders--including parents, students, school board members, community activists, administrators, policymakers and attorneys--in their efforts to promote racial diversity and avoid racial isolation in suburban school systems. Critical information on the current legal, political and policy issues…

The Walt Disney Magnet School Tot Lot, part of the school and park complex in Chicago, is designed for younger children. (Author/MLF)

Discusses the actual evaluation procedures of magnet schools from several standpoints, including evaluation methodology, using actual evaluations, and new evaluation research areas. (SR)

Magnet schools gained prominence in education in the 1970s as a tool for achieving voluntary desegregation in lieu of forced busing. The theory behind magnet schools as a desegregation tool is simple: Create a school so distinctive and appealing--so magnetic--that it will draw a diverse range of families from throughout the community eager to…

Examines renovation efforts involving an old urban, magnet high school (North Fort Myers, Florida) that transformed it into an up-to-date school facility without interfering with the school's operation. Discusses design and planning strategies, materials used, and the environmental concerns that needed to be addressed. (GR)

Houston (TX) schools have developed an innovative attitude toward the teacher shortage; a magnet high school program encourages and prepares students for careers in education. (MD)

This book asserts that alternative programs remain a practical management strategy for educating diverse student learners, offering specific ideas for program implementation, accountability for student learning, and quality service provision. The information serves as an overview of important factors to consider for those seeking new approaches to…

This document is the third in a series of handbooks designed to help educators who are considering controlled choice as a possible desegregation method. The document describes the educational philosophy, curriculum, teaching methods, school organization, and grading methods of traditionally organized schools. Four schools in the northeastern…

This theme issue of a Texas journal on gifted education focuses on future challenges and options. "A Thoughtful Look at the Concept of Talent Development" (Francoys Gagne) discusses definitions of giftedness and talent and describes a differentiated model of giftedness and talent that includes five aptitude domains: intellectual, creative,…

Although 70 percent of the 1,600 schools responding to a survey by the Sid Richardson Foundation in Forth Worth, Texas provides some sort of program for the gifted, this was often found to be only "enrichment." An example of a school system that has gone beyond enrichment is that of Frederick County, Maryland. The system provides an…

Magnet schools have developed strong national and local constituencies among parents and educators, who see them as vehicles for bringing equity and academic excellence to all students. Typically, these schools offer innovative programs through a specialized focus or theme. They may emphasize subjects like science or the arts, or they may adopt…

Based on experiences in Dallas, Boston, and Minneapolis, guidelines are given for local school-business partnerships, including objectives, forms of cooperation, and partnership activities. In this last area, internships, magnet and specialty school programs in the above-mentioned cities are described. (SJL)

Recruitment of high school students is an easy way to increase the number and quality of African-American students preparing to teach. The article describes a program that provides a four-year college preparatory experience within a Washington, DC high school for students interested in teaching careers. (SM)

Lack of relevant course work is a top reason why high school students drop out, and studies have shown that low-income and minority students are less likely to be enrolled in college preparatory curricula than their more affluent peers. In today's world, it is critical to ensure that all students have access to a rigorous, high-quality education…