Proposes a model for writing program administrators to use to assess the effectiveness of composition programs. Argues the need to consider local conditions, evaluate the internal coherence of programs, and consider the external relevance of programs. Describes how using this model led the Writing Center at Northern Arizona University to make…

Examines the comprehensive planning process done prior to renovating or constructing new buildings at educational facilities in order to prevent errors. Planning steps are highlighted as is one city's experience in making more space available at its schools to meet rising enrollment needs. (GR)

This paper discusses the recent development of a new undergraduate international business program at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Firstly, it describes the context of the initiative in terms of the New Zealand business environment, the university sector in New Zealand and recent global trends in international business education.…

Three years ago, when the author joined the staff of Agua Fria High School in Phoenix, Arizona, as an assistant principal, she was excited to find that the students' school day started an hour and a half later than normal each Wednesday to provide staff development time for the teaching staff. That first year, however, neither the principal, Bryce…

Communities of Practice offer state agency personnel a promising approach for engaging stakeholder groups in collaboratively solving complex and, often, persistent problems in special education. Communities of Practice can help state agency personnel drive strategy, solve problems, promote the spread of best practices, develop members'…

The "School Administrator's Guide to Implementing Language Programming" serves as a starting point to plan for and implement language programming. It provides a general overview; suggests practical strategies for working with students, parents, teachers and the surrounding community; and includes details on areas to address in selecting…

Northern Ireland has invested heavily in the use of technology enhanced learning at all levels of education. Alongside this, radical changes to the school curriculum and the planned move away from academic selection towards a more inclusive system are challenging those involved in Initial Teacher Education to find ways to improve teaching and…

The papers presented in this paper accompany a core report about the Appalachian Math Science Partnership (AMSP) entitled "The Appalachian Math Science Partnership: A Multi-State Umbrella Partnership Promoting Local Mathematics and Science Reform Report." Each of them focuses on an especially effective strategy or component of the AMSP…

This article provides school counselors with a plan for securing administrative support for implementing of comprehensive school counseling programs. Systems and systems theory is introduced to explain systemic change in the context of leadership. Leadership theory is presented to assist school counselors in leading systemic change and securing…

This document provides a methodology for reviewing all components of a cooperative vocational education program in order to increase the program's ability to benefit students. An introduction provides an overview of cooperative vocational education. It lists benefits to the student, school, employer, and community and discusses the relationship of…

The Westchester Initiative for Homeless Children is an effort of the Plan for Social Excellence, Inc., to improve education. This report updates a 1993 report that studied the limited successes and ongoing challenges of educating homeless children in Westchester County (New York). This update examines changes in educational policy since the first…

A new paradigm for putting school choice into perspective is offered in this paper, which argues that the administrative model of setting standards and increasing funding is not working for American schools. Choice, based on the market model, is advocated as a way to provide incentives and opportunities for change. Although choice programs take…

This document is designed to help local practitioners construct new tech prep systems that bridge the federal Tech Prep Education Act with the new School-to-Work Opportunities legislation. Section I provides a historical and philosophical foundation for new systems. It describes the movement's roots, legislation, and local, state, and federal…

To provide more information about school-community initiatives, a mapping project was developed to show the broad outlines of the movement to bring about change through school-community efforts and to show some of the movement's more specialized details. Focusing on initiatives at the kindergarten through grade 12 level, the mapping project…

This paper discusses how the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is meeting challenges related to the changing nature of professional development programs, focusing on programs featuring a system of shared decision making on matters of design and governance of program elements. After a commentary about CEHD…