The founder of "Teach for America," a nonprofit organization to recruit capable but undirected college seniors for a two-year commitment to teaching, has successfully brought in a corps of graduates with a high level of commitment, academic excellence, varied skills, and a better minority representation to teach in difficult-to-staff…

This paper describes two Department of Education reports on gifted education--1972's Marland Report and 1993's "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." It relates report findings to findings from a survey of states' policies. The paper calls for states to design programs that nurture talent potential of all students…

Development of a comprehensive indicators program will enable evaluation of the effectiveness of educational reform in Saskatchewan (Canada). Pilot projects in three school districts representing large urban, small urban, and rural settings began during the 1992-93 school year and the first annual provincial indicators report was issued in 1994.…

Four surveys were part of an evaluation of the Pew National Dental Education Program to help dental schools respond to the changing health care environment. Results show funded schools gained a better understanding of their environment, reported increased participation in and commitment to planning among constituencies, and implemented strategic…

Staff development programs should be established by using a set of assumptions grounded in research and best practice. The article examines faulty assumptions that guide too many programs, then presents 14 new assumptions that should guide effective practice and successful staff development. (SM)

Describes Invitational Education theory, illustrates it, and describes its application with seven middle schools. Invitational Education is based on the interrelationships among people, places, policies, processes, and programs. Ways in which the Invitational Education process differs from the usual "factory" approach to education are…

A case study of a large nonselective urban high school in Baltimore (Maryland) describes the design and implementation of a comprehensive package of school reforms, the Talent Development Model with Career Academies. Qualitative and quantitative evidence is provided on significant improvements in school climate, student attendance, promotion…

Analyzes recent Slovenian elementary school legislation, considering its influence on elementary school teachers. This legislation is based on the belief that teachers must learn to feel confident with their own decision making. The paper outlines proposals for restructuring elementary education generated by the Restructuring Primary Teachers'…

Introduces a series of seven articles that provide different perspectives on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a field-based teacher-education program at Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Explains features of the restructured teacher-education program, the aim and character of evaluating the program, and learning from…

Wraps up a series of articles on the work of faculty and students at Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, who were involved in restructuring the teacher-preparation program to be a field-based program. Discusses the profundity of the change, the political context for implementation, and the evaluation of the program. (SM)

Colleges and universities across the U.S. are making efforts in teacher education reform in order to better the training of instructors and therefore the education of children. In this article, the authors describe two aspects of interrelated changes in teacher education. They share various aspects of their journey--to redesign their teacher…

Mali, in choosing democratic education within a decentralised context, has made a clear choice as to the importance of the role that communities and territorial collectivities should play in the profound change and reform of the educational system. This reform will only happen if the communities, territorial collectivities, and all the actors…

In October 1994 the President signed into law the "Improving America's Schools Act." Title I, the largest primary and secondary federal education program was reauthorized by this legislation, which, among other things rewrote the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The reauthorized law provides parents, advocates, and school…

This theme issue reports on a national survey to identify inclusive education programs for students with disabilities. First, chief state school officers were surveyed to identify local school districts where inclusion activities were taking place, including information about policy, funding, and evaluation. Next, districts identified were…

This monograph provides a structured planning process and information on best educational practices for serving students with emotional/behavior disorders (E/BD) placed in general education classrooms. After an introductory chapter, the guide: (1) addresses the controversy concerning inclusion for students with emotional/behavioral disorders; (2)…