Describes ways teachers can enhance students' vocabulary development through multiple contexts available in typical middle school classroom settings. Addresses questions about vocabulary learning and offers suggestions for enhancing vocabulary with narrative and expository texts that involve multiple classroom contexts. Considers the Vocab-o-gram…

Comprehensive school-reform models like the Accelerated Schools Project stress professional development and give educators specific, research-based strategies to address essential requirements for enhancing academic achievement. The federal Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration initiative provides necessary funding. Information sources and…

Investigated the relationship between the goals of the AmericaReads program for K-3 students and tutors' adherence to these goals by examining artifacts from the tutoring sessions, including audiotapes, interviews with supervisors, and questionnaires completed by tutors. Found an inconsistent fidelity to tutoring expectations, which was explained…

Suggests four methods for implementing a successful library planning process, based on experiences at the Anaheim (California) Public Library. Highlights include maximizing the level of public input; engaging staff at all levels in all stages of the process; assessing all input critically; and proper use in decision making. (Author/LRW)

Examined the implementation of "Looking After Children" materials in five Australian States and Territories. Found that few system changes were required for cultural reasons. Initial fears of increasing workloads were outweighed by positive responses from practitioners, caregivers, and youth with experience in the out-of-home care…

Describes various organizations that offer programs and services for youth in their early teens. Explains the philosophy of positive youth development that is an emerging theme in this long-standing but newly self-conscious field. Reviews principles of best practice and key implementation challenges. (SLD)

Under Policy Governance, superintendents get full authority to run districts, but their actions must be aligned with board policy and certain board-imposed limitations. Boards' policy can change dramatically with elections, causing a change in Policy- Governance climate. Board decisions cannot be changed unless a majority approves. (MLH)

Discusses a national study that compared tech prep with career and technical education. Looks at promising practices including formal articulation, career pathways, work-based learning, professional evaluation, curriculum integration, and evaluation. (JOW)

Reviews federal and state legislation affecting adult literacy education. Describes policy interpretation and implementation issues that affect the delivery of education. (SK)

Describes planning and first-year implementation of a doctoral cohort program for urban principals involving collaboration between Texas A & M University and the Austin Independent School District. Discusses the program's guiding vision, organization, and curriculum and contributions of other groups and individuals. Startup recommendations are…

The Home Connections program aims to induce ongoing, meaningful parent-adolescent dialogue at home and follow up on those discussions at school. Students are assigned provocative weekly questions to ask parents and requested to turn in written results, which are discussed and tabulated. Implementation steps are outlined. (MLH)

Professor Hill Walker has identified three challenges to handling disruptive student behavior: prevention, at-risk programs, and high-intensity interventions. Principals should beware administrative traps: getting tough is enough, targeting a few difficult students, seeking quick fixes, finding one powerful trick, revering outside experts, and…

A study examined the degree to which eight teachers would faithfully implement an early literacy intervention plan. Teachers implemented the intervention with a high degree of fidelity and benefited from the community approach to intervention for struggling readers. Most children made substantial gains in phonemic blending and segmenting…

Explores University of Technology, Sydney's process to transform its program in management of third sector organizations because of the profound social change caused by globalization. Analyzes the nature of the crisis, offers a rationale for the strategic action taken, and evaluates the first-phase implementation, including the politics of…

Discusses steps a liberal arts college should take if it wishes to develop an academically and socially effective service-learning program: revisit the college's mission, assemble resources, connect service learning to similar concerns, form a plan for faculty development, and reward faculty who use service learning. (EV)