Discusses guidelines adopted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that pertain to privacy protection and the transborder flows of personal data. Discussion covers principles of fair information practice on the national and international levels, approaches to implementing the guidelines, and common public and private…

Educators at Laurel (Delaware) Central Middle School discovered that school-based governance is hard to implement. Before assuming decision-making responsibilities, teachers must possess the necessary dedication, leadership skills, and determination to see a task completed. Interdisciplinary teacher teams, a changing principal role, and realistic…

Based on a Phoenix (Arizona) school district's experience, this article shows central office administrators how to empower individual schools without abdicating control. Administrators should first identify all influential parties, seek successful pioneers in other districts, examine research findings, allow time for change, and delegate someone…

Queensland, Australia, is embarking on a massive limited bilingual second-language learning program for all students in the first eight years of school. Potential implementation problems and implications for the wider society are discussed, including the effect of the emphasis on studying Asian languages. (Contains 40 references.) (Author/LB)

The Future Problem Solving Program aims to empower potential leaders to manage change successfully. It involves teams of students using a structured, creative problem-solving model to tackle controversial issues for the future; writing scenarios creating alternative futures; and planning for and implementing real solutions to real problems in…

A former participant in the Future Problem Solving Program reminisces about his experience in local and national competitions, describes the program's unique features (its emphasis on creativity and focus on the future), and notes the usefulness of the problem-solving process in his work with the Corporate Audit Staff of General Electric. (JDD)

This article describes the philosophy, policies, and activities of the Nueva Learning Center for gifted and talented students. Features include personalized learning, a climate conducive to creativity, multiple educational options, community and human service involvement, and teacher training activities. Programs for language arts, science,…

Discussion of how school library media specialists can fulfill the mission stated in "Information Power: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs" focuses on responsiveness to the concerns of school administrators. Topics addressed include impacts on student learning; learner outcomes and performance objectives; measures of…

In 1988, Indiana adopted a system of performance-based accreditation for its public schools. This article summarizes a study to describe the program's planning and implementation processes, evaluate program effects, and determine whether relationships exist among successful school improvement and planning and three elements identified in the…

Performance funding for public colleges is attractive to state policymakers but volatile and difficult to implement. It requires levels of collaboration, cooperation, patience, and persistence unusual in state government and a commitment to institutional goals, performance standards, and coordinated activities rare in academic governance. However,…

Two studies found that the "First Step to Success" early-intervention program for at-risk kindergartners could be replicated successfully, that educators who participated in the First Step training sessions rated the quality of the training highly, and that about half of those trained actually went on to implement the program. (Author/CR)

Analyzes the case of a trans-European video-teaching link principally from the standpoint of the expenditure required to implement and run it, set against the benefits it offers. Considers fixed and recurrent costs. Concludes that, despite enthusiasms in the literature and in official reports for interactive tele-teaching, the financial burden it…

Research indicates that the most profound barriers to implementing portfolio assessments are time requirements and grading difficulties. Principals can help teachers by allowing released time for organizing meetings, developing curriculum, networking, and grading portfolios. Teachers also need recognition and storage/documentation materials and…

An ethnographic study of a principal heading an inclusive elementary school showed that a supportive environment for critique encourages teacher autonomy, risk taking, and consideration of alternative implementation frameworks. Creating a democratic environment coalesces staff. Principal behaviors are undergirded by a spirituality grounded in…

Tips are provided for implementing successful inclusion programs for students with disabilities, including providing continuing, consistent support with structured staff-development activities; eliciting parental collaboration in all aspects of the inclusion effort; enhancing peer involvement, and facilitating classroom diversity by making…