Ways to prepare students for life after school have changed dramatically. This paper outlines five different approaches to incorporating the world of work into the United Kingdom's school curriculum (the bolt-on approach, through subjects, the whole school progressive policy approach, integration, and cooperation with local compacts) and explores…

A chronic problem in quick visits to "innovative" schools is discerning whether something is happening. This article presents some guiding principles for recognizing the meanings, organizational structures, and effects of change. Accompanying School Restructuring Profile offers busy practitioners conceptual outline or set of "must sees" for…

Institutionalization is widely recognized as a rounded-off conclusion of the innovation process. This article suggests that innovation means more than achieving stability and should be conceived in more dynamic terms. A specific innovation (open project education in a Dutch secondary school) is used to illustrate the theoretical analysis. (21…

Districts planning to implement principal mentoring programs can increase their programs' chances of success by considering various issues, such as mentor selection, mentor/protege matches, essential hands-on experiences, and the value of reciprocation and time commitment. Successful mentoring depends on establishing trust, conveying expectations,…

Draws on U.S. and international research to analyze the models, strategies, and processes used in implementing and sustaining educational reforms and innovations at the classroom level. There are some promising directions: a trend away from a macro policy focus to examining building- and classroom-level innovations, a shift from innovation…

Teachers' work with four National Science Foundation-funded curricula in the Missouri Middle-School Mathematics Project has disclosed 10 critical implementation elements: administrative support, opportunities for study, curriculum sampling, daily planning, interaction with experts, collaboration with colleagues, incorporation of new assessments,…

By addressing bullying issues, school personnel may prevent more serious violent behavior. This article reviews bullies' and victims' characteristics and describes a school-based intervention plan for managing bullying behavior on the playground and classroom, educating parent/teacher organizations and counselors, and publicizing and implementing…

Evaluation of an on-the-job training model used by the Dutch post office showed it was not entirely successful. Improvement in the performance of mentors and the quality of self-study materials was needed. Mentors must be convinced of the benefit of the model for successful implementation. (SK)

A curriculum implementation monitoring system should be relatively inexpensive, unburdensome for faculty, and improvement oriented; produce information to guide staff development; and refrain from covertly evaluating teachers. A self-assessment checklist should report teachers' perceptions about degree of implementation, difficulty level, and…

The effects of the School Development Program (SDP) of James Comer on a variety of student outcomes are reviewed in this summary of previous evaluations in SDP schools. Assessments of the quality of SDP implementation in schools in New York (New York), Washington (District of Columbia), and New Haven (Connecticut) are considered. (SLD)

Examines Colorado's Second Chance Pilot Program for Dropouts, designed to reduce the number of dropouts through Second Chance Centers giving students the opportunity to complete requirements for a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Although limited in success, the program provides a model for the funding of alternative schools. (SLD)

Describes a study to determine the effects of decentralized governance and finance structures on resource allocation to and within schools. Using a common methodology and set of questions, authors analyzed data on school-based budgeting in Chicago, Fort Worth, New York, and Rochester. School-based budgeting occurs at the margins, encourages…

Describes how to plan and implement intergenerational programs that benefit both students and senior citizens. Seniors can be invited to discuss their hobbies or careers, provide firsthand accounts of historical events in social-studies classes, and work with students on biography or gardening projects. Senior volunteers can also serve as…

Describes a balanced-curriculum process created by James Comer's School Development Program that involves describing and aligning the curriculum and assessing student mastery. The SDP's first goal is to establish a supportive school culture. The balanced-curriculum process helps broaden the developmental perspective by addressing student learning.…

Presents findings from the Professional Assessment and Comprehensive Evaluation System (PACES) Spring 2000 Fields Study in a large southeastern school district. PACES is a comprehensive, learner-centered classroom-based system that provides educators with information useful for teaching and learning. During this pilot study of PACES, interviews…