Looks at the essentials of programs for at-risk students and describes an actual program that exemplifies each essential. (SR)

Discusses eight myths about school choice and attempts to settle some of the main arguments on the basis of experiences in Minnesota and elsewhere. Reviews some of the variety of established choice policies and describes the components of an effective program. (SR)

Describes the operations of the National Diffusion Network, a system for (1) identifying locally developed programs that are educational successes, (2) creating awareness of the programs, and (3) providing training so that programs can be replicated in other locations. (FL)

Describes New Zealand's successful "Transition Education" program for at-risk, low-achieving secondary students, which helps students make the transition from school to adulthood. (SR)

Describes a program intended to improve the school attendance of truant students, called the Mentoring and Tutoring Help (MATH) program. Discusses the importance of mentors and their roles in the MATH program, and presents the 18 most critical organizational steps for truancy intervention in the program. (SR)

Reports on a 6-year study and project in Ohio that visited schools to evaluate their guidance programs, implemented revitalization ideas into 10 programs, and evaluated and disseminated the results. Presents eight essential actions for revitalizing guidance programs. (SR)

Describes the EEXCEL project, a tutoring/housing project in blight-stricken south central Los Angeles. Shows how the combination of private business, education, and caring individuals demonstrated how easy it is to give hope, to give a future, to at-risk children. (RS)

Discusses the record of magnet schools in increasing and equalizing student opportunity, building educational quality, and improving student learning. (SR)

Uses the successful example of Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to discuss community service projects in middle schools. Discusses types of projects and requirements for a successful program. (SR)

Describes the Literature Project, a literature-based thematic approach to reading instruction designed to improve self-esteem in adolescents with learning and behavior problems. Discusses the effectiveness of the program. (SR)

The author presents the advantages of job sharing for all school personnel, saying that education is particularly adaptable to this new form of employment. Current job sharing programs in Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey schools are briefly discussed. (SJL)

Outlines characteristics of effective alternative programs for at-risk middle schools students, noting organizational, instructional, and interpersonal components. Describes a successful drop-out prevention program which operates as a school-within-a-school for sixth- through eighth-grade students, emphasizing multicultural education and…

Describes a program to improve mathematical skills of off-track students through a partnership among a university, public school, local telephone company, and the community (including families and social agencies). Shows significant improvements in students' academic achievement, and notes that all of the teachers felt the social work aspect had a…