Arizona's "exemplary" charter-school legislation illustrates how three underlying ideologies (antibureaucracy, market-based education, and teacher professionalism) play out in practical terms. Although Arizona charter schools are achieving stability via independent financial status and real-time funding, many have monitoring…

Examines equity consequences of Tennessee's 1992 education finance reform. Assesses concurrent changes in student performance over the funding formula's phase-in period, addressing test-score distribution and movement toward adequacy. Results are mixed. Tennessee should consider incorporating an outcome-based, adequacy funding approach to achieve…

This article provides guidelines for knowing when to institutionalize peer-mediated instruction and interventions (PMII), and generalization techniques familiar to special educators are linked specifically to institutionalization of PMII. Barriers and promoters of sustained PMII in schools are identified, with implications for how stakeholders…

Examines the cost-effectiveness of ITV (interactive television) in seven school districts participating in a cooperative educational association. In all cases, providing the courses on site was far less costly than supporting the courses through distance education. Average cost savings would have ranged from 622 percent to 78 percent. (Contains 12…

Investigates the use of faculty book clubs as a way to introduce middle school teachers to acclaimed adolescent literature in hopes that they might incorporate the literature read into their language arts and social studies classes. Finds that such clubs are an excellent way to provide staff development in the area of adolescent literature for…

New York City's SuperStart Plus and Kindergarten Plus programs provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment that encourages both general- and special-education children's language, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Teachers integrate multicultural and English-as-a-Second-Language strategies into their teaching.…

Kentucky's ungraded Primary School Program is defined by seven critical attributes: developmentally appropriate educational practices, multiage/multiability classrooms, continuous progress, authentic assessments, qualitative reporting methods, professional teamwork, and positive parent involvement. This article explains these attributes,…

Dissatisfied with their present parent-teacher conference format, an Iowa middle school perused the literature on student-led conferences and established three program implementation phases: initial preparations, conferences, and evaluations. Students selected portfolio items, decided what to discuss with parents, and rehearsed the conference…

Describes three typical scenarios in which distance education (DE) is used. Defines elements of DE and provides a rationale for its implementation. Discusses important trends in DE related to technology (i.e., advances in signal transporting and communication systems) and to pedagogy and andragogy (i.e., instructional design and planning for…

Explores implications for evaluation practice of using five different perspectives on organizations, drawing on the four models of social program implementation developed by R. F. Elmore (1978). It is argued that evaluation will only really be effective when its focus, methods, and management reflect realistic assumptions about how organizations…

Studies of seven school-sponsored programs conducted by the Harvard Family Research Project and the National Association of State Boards of Education found various innovative approaches to early childhood education. This article describes four major success strategies: organizing an early childhood unit; creating child-centered classrooms;…

The planning process is essential when implementing a Big6 Skills instruction program. First, identify what actually occurs in the classroom and school; next, analyze the data and create plans. A completed Skills by Unit Matrix (sample included) can be used both as a planning tool and as documentation of what took place. (Author/AEF)

This article presents a practical plan for improving reading comprehension and reader self-efficacy in grades 4-12 through transactional strategies instruction. Three phases of instruction are described and specific instructional strategies are provided. Suggestions for implementation and for evaluation of instruction effectiveness are also…

Principals desiring to develop a school-uniform policy should involve parents, teachers, community leaders, and student representatives; beware restrictions on religious and political expression; provide flexibility and assistance for low-income families; implement a pilot program; align the policy with school-safety issues; and consider legal…

States that Central Community College (Nebraska) has taken the lead in many business, industry, and educational collaborations. Two models are described: (1) the development and implementation of a collaborative team; and (2) team approaches that allow for substantial increases in funding and full-time equivalents while serving business and…