Notes that staff at Hannah More School, private, nonprofit psychoeducational day school for seriously emotionally disabled adolescents, exhibit high energy, morale, and dedication to students. Explains that creating this positive climate has been goal of staff-recognition program providing ongoing nurturance for caregivers. Discusses how program…

This article offers an approach to providing integrated education for students with disabilities by effectively involving major stakeholders (building-level administrators, general education staff, special education staff, and students). A matrix displays categories of support (beliefs/values, content, methods, and adult-adult interactions) for…

Discusses a cooperative effort to solve the articulation problems among participating institutions of higher education and to dispel the stereotypes impeding these efforts. Participants value highly the collegial exchange afforded by the project and feel that the project reduced their professional isolation. Teachers instituted changes in…

Participatory decision making can meld individual teacher goals into shared organizational goals that emphasize benefits for students. The article examines site-based management, organizational prerequisites, central office responsibilities, organizational culture, appropriate use of participation, decision-making strategies, and five obstacles to…

To be successful, educational reform must involve the range of educational shareholders from the beginning in discussions about what to change and why. The participatory reform method of the Institute for Responsive Education illustrates parent-teacher action research for new foundations for educational structures. (SLD)

This report describes the development and implementation of a required course in medical ethics for second-year medical students at Cornell University Medical College (New York). The planning model stressed achieving faculty consensus. Evaluation indicated that faculty felt the planning sessions added greatly to their teaching and students were…

A University of Tulsa project to improve campus leadership development focused on encouraging communication among nonacademic staff. From this experience came valuable proposals for institutional change, but the process itself was even more significant, empowering employees to accept a voice in campus governance. Some frustration has also…

Summarizes findings from a 15-month study of 6 schools and principals changing to a decentralized school governance model. Highlights benefits such as administrator role redefinition, autonomy's effects on improving school culture and contributing to school reform success, increased commitment to decisions, increased staff cohesion and trust, and…

Offers a high school principal's perspective on the effects on principal-teacher relations of implementing a North Central Association Outcomes Accreditation process. Highlights the importance of teacher ownership of the process and of the principal's involvement and interest as a colleague. (DMM)

The participative management plan selected, adapted, and implemented by Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts) in 1989 is described. Successes, lessons learned, and plans for the future are also discussed. The teaching hospital chose the Scanlon Plan from among others as a means to quality improvement. (Author/MSE)

The "Participative Process Model" of management is presented in which the team leader establishes what tasks need to be accomplished; then team members determine the resources required and develop a plan to complete the tasks. Suggestions are offered on how to implement the participative management process in existing organizations. (SLW)

New roles for teachers in curriculum development conflict with traditional expectations. Constructing curriculum involves teachers' individual flexibility and collective uniformity. This article presents a curriculum-inquiry model that integrates elements of educational practice often dealt with in isolation (instruction, curriculum, assessment,…

Simply involving teachers in decision making does not ensure a more effective school. As one San Diego high school's experience with strategic planning shows, teachers must have previous experiences that stress personal validation, build collegiality, and provide opportunities for inquiry and reflection. Principals must be able to gauge staff…

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…

Bringing a shared onsite management structure to UCLA's laboratory elementary school was possible because the school enjoys relative autonomy. At this newly restructured school, teachers now share ownership of decisions at every operating level. Success depends on advocacy groups, a formal decision-making body, and annual retreats for staff unity.…