Environmental educators have long dealt with the charge that the practice of teaching about environmental issues is an attempt to introduce a liberal agenda into the classroom curriculum. However, traditionally Republican states and traditionally Democratic states are both among the nation's leaders and laggards in institutionalizing environmental…

People do not want to know the history, minutiae of policy, or operations, or even the political intrigues of a virtual consortium. People want to know if the consortium has value, whether it can help them, and if it is a threat. In this article, the author focuses on the operating principles and policies that have proven successful in the…

The criteria of excellence outlined in this book have been organized according to the following five components, identified as essential for effective reading programs: school and community commitment, staff and staff development, the learning environment, program development and implementation, and instructional materials. For each of the…

This report provides an overview and description of social and emotional learning (SEL) and service-learning (S-L) as tools to improve the lives and academic performance of students. It describes how the two practices are interrelated, and cites research evidence that supports the expanded use of both practices in the classroom. Also provided are…

Since the announcement in 1999 of a plan to tie teachers' salary increases to student achievement by Denver Public Schools, there has been a flood of nationwide policy activity around teacher compensation. This paper examines pay plans in Denver, Toledo, Minneapolis, and New York City, offering a snapshot of the changing landscape of teacher…

The Minnesota Department of Education has created a plan, "Unlearning Violence," to aid schools and communities in their efforts to create safe and nurturing environments for all the state's children. The goals and challenges of this plan were formulated with the involvement of over 600 citizens and an in-depth study of research related…

The names of the county, school, principal, district, and superintendent; address; phone number; grades served; and number of students are provided for each of the 50 award recipients of the City Schools of Excellence Grant Program in New Jersey. These New Jersey schools are engaging in a thorough and intensive program of schoolwide improvement.…

The booklet provides a framework to guide development of curriculum components of the Maine Studies Curriculum Project. Funded in 1976 by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in response to a section of Maine School Law, the project aims to develop and test a K-12 curriculum, accompanying instructional resources, and a teacher education…