Head Start has long focused on assessing and improving program quality to ensure that the children served receive the best possible preparation for school and life. Most research has been focused inside the classroom--the classroom environment, teacher qualifications, and teacher interactions. Of course, the classroom is important because that is…

Focusing on the school district's written expectations for students, this document examines curriculum improvement in four sections, each accompanied by a list of related references. The first section explores the organizational and substantive planning needed to structure any curriculum improvement project effectively and includes information on…

The Fountain Central High School's planning and development process for a five-year technology plan is outlined as a guide for other schools to consult in the development of their own technology plan. Following a checklist of criteria used by the Indiana Department of Education for reviewing technology plans, the four main sections are: (1)…

Comments on building departmental excellence through creating conditions for development of the focus that emerged at the Speech Communication Department at the University of Illinois. Considers how the constructivist turn in communication studies at Illinois in the late 1970s and early 1980s underscores the value of multiple-group cluster hiring…

Examines the Department of Communications at John Carroll University from 1984 to 1999 when the university undergraduate enrollment increased 40% while department graduates increased 67%, faculty increased 120%, course offerings and programs increased 100%, and the department moved into a new building with upgraded facilities. Presents seven…

At the core of evaluating school outcome is a clear goal statement and the ability to gather important and appropriate information. This process must not be left to chance. Able school leaders develop congruent testing and feedback activity for each phase of the school year cycle. Information is then used to build a framework for school…

Describes how to conduct systematic planning for technology use. The components of an effective technology use plan, derived from a comprehensive study of school-based technology, are given. Planning development, implementation, and evaluation steps are provided. Ten planning resource books are listed. (Contains five references.) (KRN)

This study develops guidelines for the use of television in nonformal education in developing countries. Its recommendations are based on analysis of three cases of television usage: in the formal educational system in El Salvador, community development in village Alaska, and in nonformal education for parenthood in Bogota, Colombia. A selective…

The 1992-93 annual report describes Utah's progress in implementing the Utah State Public Education Strategic Plan. The plan is designed to guide schools to improvement. It seeks to educate Utah citizens, give students learning and occupational skills, develop students, and offer schools flexibility in meeting goals. Part of the strategic plan is…

Characteristics of a minicourse developed at Macquarie University in Australia, its application in Australia, and potential for countries in the Asia-Pacific region are discussed. A minicourse is defined as an entire course of studies for a group, similar to a conventional course but compressed into a few hours. The Australian minicourse is…

This book is designed for use as a theoretical and practical tool for planning and implementing secondary school change. Chapter 1 presents the history of the development of the CaMaPe models and a perspective on the universality of educational and organizational structures and describes the kinds of schools appropriate to the models. The basic…

This document describes how 10 mathematics and numeracy teachers from Technical and Further Education colleges and community providers in Australia assisted in identification of mathematics skills that would form the mathematics component of the Adult Basic Education Curriculum Framework. The draft competencies are organized under the headings of…

The demand for reform and improved schools are two constant issues in American education. Despite periodic reform efforts, most schools have resisted systemic reform. The Effective Schools Movement was a reaction to assertions in the 1960s that schools had little influence on a child's education. Effective Schools involve all relevant stakeholders…

In 1994, the state of Georgia adopted a model of education reform that defined new education goals and formalized a structure that involved state policymakers and local communities. The system operates on the premise that regular assessments of progress should drive innovations or strategies for achieving results. This guide presents an…

The first volume in this two-volume report outlines the nine educational principles on which the competence statements for adult reading and writing are based. The four literacies--for self-expression, practical purposes, knowledge, and public debate--are defined and some representative text types and common genres are provided. The four levels…