Describes the Student Endowment Investment Fund (SEIF), a project to give high school students at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin practical money-management opportunities and to help stimulate their interest in learning about other financial skills. Notes that the objective of the fund is to provide an educational investment…

Examined one school district's efforts to develop and implement a standards-based curriculum using rational and institutional perspectives. Findings show that the district took an expressly rationalistic approach in using standards, but lacking a clear instructional philosophy, the district also took an institutional approach. (SLD)

Investigates the role of professional development in the implementation of computer technologies in Canadian schools. Examines three examples of professional development; identifies issues encountered when teachers participate in large- and small-scale professional development programs; and suggests key elements that should be considered when…

A survey of 851 New Zealand teachers (64% response) implementing the technology curriculum found they were satisfied with the usefulness of the curriculum statement to guide planning and assessment. Nearly three-quarters received professional development to prepare them for teaching technology. (JOW)

Describes the program implemented at the University of Texas system that provides real-time compliance status related to all applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures unique to higher education so that compliance risk management becomes an integral part of the everyday activities of all employees. (SLD)

Describes the Diversity Research Initiative (DRI) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, a project that used the university as the site of inquiry into issues of diversity and invited a diverse group of undergraduates to acquire research skills by participating in this initiative. Explores the problems and successes of the DRI and draws…

Presents a brief history of charter schools, summarizes important elements, discusses key lessons from the charter school movement, and explores some unanswered questions. Charter schools can positively affect student achievement, attendance, and attitude; often focus on low- and moderate-income youngsters; provide talented educators with…

Although seriously needing clarification and cleanup, California's charter legislation is demonstrating its capacity as an educational policy power tool. The legislation favors strong elements of the existing system, including dedicated, forward-thinking staff, boards, and union leaders. Weak elements--micromanaging boards, unsupportive central…

Responses from 35 of 52 state tech prep coordinators indicated that 77% had evaluation plans; 68.6% had mechanisms for identifying tech prep students. Most frequent evaluation components were articulation, staff development, curriculum, and marketing. Most used evaluation criteria were job placement, postsecondary enrollment, graduation rate, and…

A reform initiative's demise is often due not to its ineffectiveness, but to its inability to deliver immediate results. Beginning with a clear vision, educators move through a "ready, fire, aim" sequence that creates "products" along the way. Charting progress can help maintain everyone's faith by distinguishing between long-term and immediate…

Discusses a study that began the process of developing a curriculum for a two-year degree in safety. Reports that two groups of safety professionals ranked the importance of content areas that might be included in the degree program--communication skills, safety management skills, and regulatory compliance were found to have the highest mean…

Locates the success or failure of language revitalization programs in a framework of solidarity and power. Focuses on the implementation of the language revitalization program within language-in-education planning. (Author/VWL)

Reports on the design and implementation of a project-based learning environment for a graduate seminar that immersed students in a real-world context. This seminar experience was organized around the design and creation of a real-world "tangible artifact", the Internet Learning Forum (ILF), and embodied many of the design principles for…

Reviews the literature on dropout prevention for school-aged children. A review of dropout prevention programs identified in the literature highlights methodological concerns, with a discussion of design, sampling, statistical analysis, and implementation issues. The interventions employed with greatest frequency in the studies reviewed emphasized…

Discusses how electronic portfolios show considerable pedagogical, student-outcomes, and program assessment promise but have been plagued by numerous logistical and implementation problems. Describes using an efolios project to solve these problems, enabling students to concentrate on writing rather than on technology and to create an electronic…