This case study researched how two Joliet, Illinois, Corsini 4R (C4R) magnet schools function for the purpose of measuring their effectiveness as an alternative learning paradigm to public school education. In C4R schools, students learn the four R's: Responsibility, Respect, Reasourcefulness and Responsiveness. Data generated from classroom…

The program considered here is said to be one of the most comprehensive in the country. Only in its third year, it has 14 different types of alternative schools in 30 different locations. (Author/AM)

The Magnet School Plan as presented to the court and subsequently approved in July, 1975, contained four action areas: (1) reduce the number of schools that are 90 percent or more white or combined black and brown, (2) reduce the number of students attending schools that are 90 percent or more white or combined black and brown, (3) provide free…

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) established an alternative education system to comply with a 1976 desegregation court order. This system was composed of vanguards (grades 4-6), academies (grades 7-8), and magnet high schools (grades 9-12). These schools were expected to attract a student population which would reflect the ethnic mix…

This book asserts that alternative programs remain a practical management strategy for educating diverse student learners, offering specific ideas for program implementation, accountability for student learning, and quality service provision. The information serves as an overview of important factors to consider for those seeking new approaches to…

The objective of the magnet schools concept is to create quality educational programs with distinctive features which can attract or retain pupils of various ethnic types, and thereby contribute to racial balance in the schools. Magnet schools are intended to promote desegregation by permitting parents to make voluntary choices among schools,…

The St. Louis Public Schools have used magnet schools to meet the goals of desegregating the system and improving the quality of education for students. The changes in the St. Louis Schools began in 1975 with the issuance of a Consent Judgement and Decree. The Consent Decree provides broad guidelines which allow the system to develop specific…

The Columbus (Ohio) 1988 Magnet Schools Continuation Project needs to encourage greater parent involvement by encouraging parent-teacher organizations and informing parents of their children's accomplishments. Major objectives were to enhance the core instructional program, to provide parents with an active partnership experience in their…

A project-wide evaluation of the Houston, Texas magnet school program indicated that it successfully implemented four court-defined desegregation goals: (1) fewer schools which are 90% or more white or combined black and Mexican-American; (2) fewer students who attend such schools; (3) free transportation for magnet school students; and (4) an…

This chapter of "The Best of the Best of ERIC," Volume 2, contains 17 summaries of documents and journal articles on alternative schools, all of which are indexed in either "Resources in Education" or "Current Index to Journals in Education." The materials included deal with various aspects of this topic, such as reasons for success or failure of…

In this booklet, the use of Academic Interest Centers (AIC) in Chicago public schools is described. An AIC is defined as an educational option program which: (1) concentrates a unique combination of resources for academic improvement in one location; (2) serves children of various racial/ethnic backgrounds in a way that advances their academic…

This two-part anthology of research summaries examines the potential of magnet schools to provide equal education and educational access for minority group children and reviews successful magnet programs. Part 1, "Magnet Schools, Desegregation, and Choice," contains the following chapters: (1) "Using Magnet Schools for…

School choice is advocated on the theory that deregulation and greater market control can restructure and improve education. While certain market strategies of improvement are worth exploring, complex production functions, unclear goals, and the political role of education in society limit the extent to which education can be understood and…

In many places across the country, public school students no longer automatically attend their neighborhood school. Instead, parents may decide that their child's needs are better met elsewhere, for example, at a small alternative school, an arts magnet school, a charter technology high school, or a media academy operating within a larger school.…

Summarizes a study evaluating California's first digital magnet school, designed to emulate a Silicon-Valley high-tech start-up company. A survey of 159 junior and seniors revealed positive perceptions of the school's program and business atmosphere and very high expectations for achieving college and career success. (Contains 44 references.) (MLH)