A Rand Corporation study finds that an innovation is likely to fail if a school is in it for the money; however, if a school identifies a genuine problem and tries to solve it, the innovation is likely to succeed. (Author/IRT)

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center--the MET--is a multimillion-dollar Rhode Island effort to emphasize learning in real-world situations. Internships have become the torque that drives each student's education plan, focusing on higher level skills rather than on skills specific to a certain trade. (MLF)

Alternative approaches to education can work well if they are based on common sense and sound research. Recent research findings are reported for alternative approaches to three areas: curriculum, testing and measurement, and instruction. (TE)

Describes the concept of education vouchers, discusses opposition to vouchers, and outlines the minimal requirements of a regulated voucher plan'' currently proposed by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Center for the Study of Public Policy. (JH)

The Boston school system saved $3 million by renovating the old Boston Gas Company building rather than building a new school. (WD)

The Education Commission of the States along with the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota surveyed 110 charter schools, more than two-thirds of the schools approved in 7 states. Charter school officials advise others interested in opening their own school to establish a clear vision, mission, and philosophy, and to devote…

Describes and illustrates the design of Cyril B. Busbee Middle School, Cayce, South Carolina. (JF)

Describes the design of Lowell, Indiana, High School. (JF)

Various systems approaches used in the design and construction of a flexible school facility with a specific look at systems buildings in use by school boards in Rochester, New York and Hillsboro, Oregon. (RA)

Board members would be wise to use their power to keep superfluous or worthless innovations from wasting time and strangling schools. (Author/IRT)

Virtual museums focus on a specific curriculum theme and showcase electronic museum-type collections such as artifacts, paintings, photographs, numerous databases, and Web links to resources around the world. Museums of all types include vital teaching tools that help students make discoveries and form connections with the past, present, and…

Education improves when money is scarce because innovations and marginal programs are cut and the schools return to teaching the fundamental skills. (IRT)

Project Intervention is an innovative dropout prevention program developed by the Corpus Christi Schools (TX) to improve school attendance, decrease disruptive behavior, and improve academic achievement. Includes a discussion of dropout data analysis and a sidebar outlining the importance of citing the economic stakes when promoting the…