Risks are taken in establishing alternative school programs but they can be minimized by giving the proper attention to several critical factors. (Author)

The startup of 465 federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs has propelled the idea of school/community collaboration onto national and local agendas. Collaborative action teams in the Southwest have identified three factors that encourage collaboration: the organizing group's commitment and diversity, administrative and campus…

Full-service community schools may be the most popular examples of public school transformation. The success formula features interventionist, "wrap-around services" for individuals, children, and families. From this model and its lessons arises another model that stresses interdependence, collaboration, and enlightened self-interest.…

The transformation of a high school to a learning community is a slow and challenging process. This study tracked the efforts of teacher and administrative leaders from six high schools who worked to develop professional learning communities. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of interviews with school leaders revealed that the early days of…

The Community Learning Program in a Florissant, Missouri, high school provides hands-on career exploration experiences supervised by community sponsors. The program is described here and students' positive responses to an evaluation questionnaire are outlined. (MJL)

In 1987, the College of Education at Virginia Tech restructured its principal preparation program. Internships are conducted by principal-mentors expected to be teachers, models, and supportive colleagues. The program allows mentors, central office staff, and professors to meet with graduate students in an environment where all are learners. Any…

This article describes a program that offers freshman college courses taught by college professors to qualified high school seniors in place of the normal senior year curriculum. (Editor)

In response to the serious educational challenges posed by the information age, the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communication and Technology developed some 1988 guidelines describing a cooperative, partnership approach among administrators, school library media specialists, and teachers.…

Describes the Central New York Education Consortium's efforts to develop university-school district partnerships and devise a positive approach to ethical instruction. The group identified essential "schools of character" aspects, such as clean, orderly environment, constant curriculum evaluation criteria, administrator role modeling,…

Certified school counselors, because of their educational training and requirements, have considerable knowledge about human development, assessment techniques, team planning and implementation strategies, career education, future work force needs, and community resources. This article shows how the counselor's role can be expanded to serve the…

New York City's Dropout Prevention Program's success depended on more than the usual commitment of resources, shared ideals, and dedicated people. A flexible planning framework was needed to overcome collaborators' mutual mistrust, identify common ground, and gain the support of line staff and top leadership in schools and in community…

Although financially overburdened, North Brunswick Township School District in Central New Jersey has committed to an ongoing inschool suspension plan aimed at reducing the numbers of at-risk students and providing some badly needed services. The district's high school eventually adopted the successful middle school model to reduce worsening…

To increase students' problem-solving abilities, the New York State New Compact for Learning requires schools to do more interdisciplinary, community-based work. Fairport High School's venture exploring the European Union evolved from Connections, a school-within-a-school program serving highly able students. Cooperation among three departments…

Effective treatment programs for students with serious emotional and behavior disturbances have used several approaches, including continuous assessment and monitoring of progress; systematic, consistent, data-based interventions; provision for practicing new skills; treatment matched to problem; multicomponent treatment; programing for transfer…

Until recently, teaching at Virginia Tech meant 1 professor in a room with 20 randomly assembled educational administration students enrolled in an isolated, narrowly defined course. program. Under the NASSP Alliance project, professors have developed a holistic, team-approach to instruction and benefit from a reading program that encourages idea…