The basic principles of program survival include one person assuming responsibility for a new program, continuing staff development, and altering a new program to benefit and improve student achievement. (MLF)

Addresses attitudinal and logistical roadblocks to launching social and emotional learning programs. Debunks ideas that such programs are either faddish, ineffective, "New-Age," or detractions from academic learning. Stresses conceptual origins in the work of Daniel Goleman, Howard Gardner, and Robert Sylwester. Notes educators must work…

Describes a New York City art teacher's successful efforts to encourage interracial harmony by having students transform the mayor's "human mosaic" campaign rhetoric into physical reality. Participation in the project begins with classroom discussions on ethnic groups and ends with a unity-through-diversity mosaic of 250 student-painted…

An Illinois elementary school principal realized that the district's "yellow tablet" teacher-evaluation system was not working. In lieu of observations by the principal, teachers agreed to visit one another, sometimes in teams, and the principal volunteered to substitute for observing teachers. The new process demolished barriers between…

Outlines a four-step grading system to help teachers implement standards-based education. Teachers should design a workable format; define three sets of codes (for assessment types, performance levels, and time periods); create a grade book with easily accessible student grade sheets; and monitor and adjust the process. (MLH)

Describes a suburban Pennsylvania school district's efforts to develop a coordinated educational campaign about sexual harassment. Administrators awakened a cautious school board; applied for and received a Goals 2000 grant; trained staff; enlightened students, using age-appropriate materials; and motivated the community to participate. (MLH)

Describes an inservice program used by the Los Angeles School District for training school administrators, program coordinators, and instructional staff members in developing plans for implementing and evaluating instructional programs. (JG)

The Virginia Beach (VA) schools provide a comprehensive, highly structured, and creative art curriculum that is as balanced and specific as the basic subjects curriculum. (Author/MD)

"Human resource development" is a term commonly used to describe the learning programs provided by business, industry, or government for employees and nonemployees. The specifics of this approach may have implications for education as well. (Author)

Describes how members of one community organization tried to get their school district to move toward an Educational Planning-Programming Budgeting System. (Authors/MB)

A model for change is currently being tested in a collaborative effort between a national research center and a large school district: the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education at the University of Texas at Austin and the Jefferson County, Colorado, Public School District. (Author/MLF)

Controversy rages over whole-language/phonics approaches to reading instruction, giving critics great school-bashing opportunities. Districts that have successfully incorporated whole language generally have planned for change, involved parents, proceeded slowly, built in ongoing professional development, provided adequate resources, reassured…

Describes a severely disabled child's successful integration into a class of 22 first graders at a suburban Atlanta elementary school. Katie, who experienced visual impairment, multiple physical disabilities, and moderate intellectual disability, received two hours of support from a special-education teacher assistant and additional help from…

Calvert County School District, Maryland, has developed a differentiated teacher evaluation system that promotes collaboration among supervisors and administrators in rating teacher performance. Methods involve informal observation, rating observation, and nonrating observation. Implementation is accompanied by extensive formative evaluation by…

The battle for communication skills has already been won; the task ahead is to get teachers in the trenches to teach them, either in separate units or in their subject areas. Nine references are listed, and a list of resources for implementing instruction in speaking and listening is provided. (Author/DCS)