This guide is designed to help school district leaders build public understanding and support for comprehensive school reform (CSR) by introducing the concept to schools, parents, and the community. Without broad-based public understanding and support, it will be difficult for the district to meet its central goal of improving student achievement.…

This document presents minimum standards for approval of gifted and talented programs that meet the requirements of the Standards of Accreditation adopted by the Arkansas State Board of Education February 22, 1984, which have been effective since June 1, 1987. Included are guidelines enabling school districts to: (1) establish equitable criteria…

This report examines the current position in Scottish further education colleges regarding professional development for those staff whose roles include teaching and the management of teaching and learning. The report: (1) identifies general categories of professional development in which it is appropriate for these staff to participate; (2)…

A staff developer summarizes the impact of several formative experiences on his career and professional outlook. Through his work as a Colorado state science curriculum consultant and his participation in various state and national organizations, he learned the importance of forming collegial relationships and networks to effect change. (PP)

A "personalized" staff development project conducted by the University of Georgia's Department of Professional Laboratory Experiences and local schools used the Teacher Performance Assessment Instruments (TPAI) to assess beginning teachers' latent competencies and indicate potential areas of improvement. Both the TPAI and the staff…

A metatheory for teacher development was used as part of a college course on teacher evaluation for supervisors. The metatheory provides a way of examining both independent and interactive effects of teacher characteristics, environmental variables (such as supervisory strategies), and task variables to link teacher development with the complexity…

California took a giant step toward a technological future by creating 15 regional teacher education and computer centers. This article focuses on the structure and activities of a regional center that serves Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. (Author/PP)

Describes a staff development project to sensitize job service counselors to the needs and employment problems of older rural jobseekers and to develop a model in-service project. Counselor response to the program was positive. Applicant surveys showed older rural job seekers generally lack good job-seeking skills. (JAC)

This article synthesizes research on teacher effectiveness, school effectiveness, and organizational change and interprets what the findings imply for staff development in the schools. Nine research-based themes for staff development efforts are outlined. (PP)

Methods staff developers used to improve the reading program at a Greenwich, Connecticut, elementary school are discussed. The entire staff of the school was involved in developing the new reading program, which focused on increasing teachers' expectations of student learning, use of diagnostic teaching, and other techniques. (PP)

This article explains how a year-long, district-wide staff development program, which focused on developing teachers' critical thinking skills, was carried out. The program was planned and directed by specially-trained local teachers who familiarized their colleagues with Benjamin S. Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. (PP)

Alaska has mounted an intensive statewide staff development effort to help teachers and administrators use research-based practices. Leadership teams from each school, with assistance from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, develop improvement plans and implementation strategies. Administrators, teachers, and school board members…

Factors to be incorporated into school district policy as a way of improving pedagogical approaches are addressed by a former U.S. Commissioner of Education. Focus is on in-service training or staff development, with recommendations for states, school systems, and schools themselves. (LB)

Louisiana's Educational Employees' Professional Improvement Program (PIP) is described. The voluntary statewide program features: (1) use of individual professional development plans submitted by school staff participants; (2) a combination of academic work, inservice training, workshops, and conferences over a five-year period; and (3) salary…

Suggests that revitalization of child welfare training is more complex than development of better training curriculum and materials. Reviews factors affecting training and questions the overall concept of child welfare training centers. If child welfare careers become more attractive, training programs will revitalize themselves. (JAC)