Research on middle-level education and the relationship between grade-span configuration and educational outcomes is reviewed in this paper. Discussions include the evolution and growth of middle schools in the United States, differences between middle and junior high schools, and outcomes of middle-grade organization. Two national trends are…

Recently, eight reports have been released that deal with restructuring education in North Carolina. These reports were issued by the State Department of Public Instruction, the Task Force on Excellence in Education, the Middle Grades Task Force, the Tar Heel Association of Principals/Assistant Principals, the Governor's Commission on Workforce…

Interviews expressing a variety of viewpoints on the present and future status of education on a national and global scale are offered by 14 major educators and public figures. The theme of educational reform frames each interview. Patricia Biehl reflects on the diminishing effectiveness of secondary education. Derek Bok favors the teaching of…

A review of the problems and potential of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) elementary-secondary educational system and a brief summary of the postsecondary system are provided in this report. Methodology involved dialogues with approximately 1,500 citizens; a survey of 870 government leaders, school administrators, teachers, parents, and…

This thematic issue is made up of papers by practicing administrators and university personnel on the topic of cooperative learning. The following articles are included: (1) "The Cooperative Learning Environment: Restructuring without Rebuilding" (Harvey C. Foyle and Lawrence Lyman); (2) "The Role of the Administrator When Adopting Cooperative…

Integrated programs provide students with a balanced mix of academic and vocational skills needed in the workplace and for lifelong learning. Basic skills in mathematics, science, and communication form the foundation for lifelong learning and the content for higher-order skills. Occupational skills depend on and do not exist apart from academic…

An inevitable tension exists between what parents want for their own child and the educational opportunities that schools now provide for all children. This handbook shows parents and policymakers how to cooperatively improve schools for all children by explaining effective educational practices and suggesting educational policy reforms. Schools…

The understanding and management of the changes called for by fundamental restructuring are discussed in this sixth guidebook in a series of nine video conferences on school restructuring. Offered are a summary of school improvement over the last 30 years, a systems framework for individual and team changes, and strategies for organizational…

A short synopsis of five regional meetings on school choice and follow-up activities is offered in this report. The meetings were held in fall 1989 in East Harlem, New York; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Charlotte, North Carolina; Denver, Colorado; and Richmond, California. Three sections of the report provide a review of choice activities that…

These proceedings of a conference on corporate programs that support urban educational reform include 11 papers that focus on the importance of education and academic achievement to the business community, and the need for a national political agenda to promote urban school reform. The following presentations describe existing enrichment programs…

The schools attended by young adolescents must be transformed into "communities for learning" that provide students with a climate fostering their intellectual development. Such communities have high expectations for students, challenge them with an integrated curriculum, offer meaningful relationships with adults, and maintain an…

The American educational system faces a critical need for restructuring. Social lag problems created by the transformation from an industrial to an informational society have affected U.S. institutions, especially education. Educators and policymakers must respond to the new economic, demographic, organizational, and educational forces which have…

This report outlines a comprehensive series of recommendations for federal policies and programs related to high schools to improve the quality of high school education and academic achievement for all students. It is based on National Association of Secondary School Principals' (NASSP's) publication entitled "Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for…

A number of forces have increased the momentum for school districts to develop district-wide reform strategies as a means of initiating and sustaining school improvement. First, districts have sometimes found it easier to manage and support a single districtwide initiative rather than many different school reform models. Second, they have come to…

This study investigated the effect of probation on individual performance motivation, organizational processes, and patterns of instruction in schools that were on probation for low achievement in Maryland and Kentucky. Findings are based on case studies of 11 schools on probation, 7 in Maryland and 4 in Kentucky, and all 11 schools had high…