Examines the ritualistic nature of community art, distinguishing elements and qualities essential for it to effectively generate private, organic relationships in settings where public independent relationships prevail. Research on two community art projects indicates that community art provides a ritual framework for social interaction by…

The roles of the school principal and the district program director in bicultural instructional programs are examined in this paper. The major responsibilities associated with both positions are defined. The role relationships between the two positions and between each position and the instructional staff are delineated. (Author/GC)

Argues that teachers lack a sense of professional responsibility for the poor condition of education because they have little say over the standards that govern them. Describes a year-long internship (the "Toledo Plan") for those entering teaching, with experienced teachers controlling personnel decisions. Reports on the plan's successes…

Summarizes the historical background, planning, and implementation of a School-Based Management/Shared Decision Making (SBM/SDM) program in Dade County (Florida). Highlights interim evaluation findings and recommendations. (FMW)

Describes three broad areas of challenge for the development of national curriculum content standards: (1) tension between leadership and consensus; (2) tension between flexible and specific standards; and (3) tension between up-to-date dynamic standards and reasonable expectations for systemic change. Examining tradeoffs necessary will result in…

Discusses implications of the involvement of business in public education. Considers the roles of business as (1) local citizen; (2) curriculum subject; (3) place of work; and (4) place to learn. Also examines requirements for effective school business partnerships and suggests that growing educational interest of employers promises a basis for…

Analyzes how 13 state education agencies (SEAs) use instrumental strategic and symbolic decisions and structures in attempting to provide leadership for improvements in educational quality. Data suggest that as the difficulties facing them increase, SEAs rely more on the strategic and symbolic dimensions of structure for their own protection. (CMG)

The California Mentor Teacher Program is unique among statewide mentor teacher initiatives in its size, longevity, stipends for mentor teachers, and the discretion it allows local education agencies. The shared perspectives of a mentor, a local administrator, and a state administrator trace the legislative and policy history of this program. (SLD)

If school choice options take place in school systems across the country, challenging opportunities may exist for the teaching profession. Analyzes the development of school choice plans by teachers and examines the impact of this process on the professionalization of teachers. Describes gains in teacher involvement, decision making, and autonomy.…

Identifies the following nuts-and-bolts issues that must be addressed when establishing school-linked service programs: (1) planning; (2) targeting; (3) governance; (4) information systems; and (5) staffing. Political and policy issues are extremely important in seeking partnerships among independent agencies in an intergovernmental setting. (SLD)

Explores the complexity of developing and identifying national curriculum content standards. This article introduces other articles on developing standards for studies in mathematics, social studies, English, the sciences, and advanced placement studies. The challenges for national standards are examined with awareness of the importance of these…

Explores and contrasts early efforts to set standards in mathematics and social studies, juxtaposing California's revisions of its history and social science curricula and the standard-setting approach of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Both programs achieved success in part because of their development strategies. (SLD)

Uses research on organizations to analyze the impact of coordination on program quality, efficiency, and accountability of programs providing school-linked services for children. Coordination is not a panacea, but it can improve the existing fragmented system by enabling a more holistic response to children's needs. (SLD)

Reviews efforts to develop national content standards for teaching English. Today's standards movements are distinguished from earlier efforts in that the learner is recognized as active, the meaning is socially and historically contingent, and the purpose is the development of language for political power and the creation and appreciation of…

Describes the urban-centered WalkAbout summer program, which involves hands-on service learning emphasizing the importance of students being authentically invested in their own learning. Program goals include increasing academic achievement, providing opportunities for community-based learning, developing a service ethic in youth, and improving…