This document describes the restructuring actions taken by the Lake Oswego School District in response to recent state legislation that significantly reduced resources for Oregon education. The first section presents the district's core beliefs, values, and areas of emphasis that define Lake Oswego's vision for 21st century education. Strategic…

The eight papers collected here bring to bear a complex set of perspectives on a common problem: how to make education more effective now and in the future. The papers speak to the need to understand education as an individual-driven, learner-centered activity. Following Ronald J. Anson's introduction called "Personalizing Systemic Reform," the…

This monograph on international disability issues offers three main papers giving English, Australian, and New Zealand viewpoints. The first paper is by Len Barton from England and is titled "Disability and the Necessity for a Socio-Political Perspective." Barton attacks the medical model of disability and argues that people with…

This study sought to ascertain the scope and nature of postsecondary offerings within the 19 countries of central Alabama, i.e., District Five, in the "Black Belt" region. In addition to profiling the offerings of community, technical, and junior colleges in the area, attitudes relative to the effectiveness and relevance of current…

This guide identifies selected workplace practices that individual businesses have used to become high performance work organizations. The guide, which is intended for managers, directors, labor leaders, workers, investors, and other individuals interesting in adopting high performance work practices, lays out the basic steps involved in…

This collection of 21 papers delivered by university professors and other representatives from throughout the United States focuses on economics teaching in the classroom from a variety of perspectives. The papers include: (1) "Internationalizing the Curriculum: The United States in a Global Economy: International Issues for the Beginning Student"…

States are in the leadership position to effect pervasive and comprehensive changes needed in the educational system. There exist five key dimensions for analyzing initiatives resulting in systemic changes: (1) infusiveness, building upon existing knowledge; (2) pervasiveness, effecting improvements in all key components of the system, including…

This manual is intended to assist individuals with disabilities or their families to protect their rights and solve their problems through developing appropriate advocacy skills. Chapter 1 defines advocacy, discusses different types of advocacy, and examines attitudes towards advocacy that may help or hinder its practice. Chapter 2 describes basic…

Due to challenging social conditions such as poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, unemployment, and drug abuse, teachers are faced with taking on new roles in order to meet students' needs. The roles of political activist, advocate, resource developer and manager, counselor, and vocational specialist are discussed in terms of their relationship to…

This article reports survey findings from a comprehensive, critical assessment of quality management initiatives at 22 pioneering colleges and universities. The 83 respondents identified key benefits of Total Quality Management (TQM) and major frustrations and problems. Key benefits included: increased involvement of people; increased listening by…

This introduction to the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) on college campuses first reviews the development and application of TQM principles in Japanese industries and recent implementation in industries and the Federal Government in the United States. Twelve principles of TQM are then identified: (1) a focus on quality; (2)…

This guide, intended to help rural educators improve their school or district, connects general knowledge about educational change efforts and knowledge about conditions and characteristics specific to rural education. Chapter 1 discusses common strengths and weaknesses of rural schools and describes values and social patterns in small schools and…

This paper presents a proposal for integrating liberal arts study within teacher education programs for the purpose of improving education through change in the education curriculum, the role of educators, the education of educators, the cooperation of educational agencies, and the place of education and knowledge in society. An extensive…

This review of effective practices in state-wide systems change was conducted as part of the PEERS (Providing Education for Everyone in Regular Schools) Project, a 5-year collaborative systems change project in California to facilitate the integration of students with severe disabilities previously at special centers into services at regular…

Introducing enduring innovations into a higher education organization requires commitment and support from colleagues. Organizational change involves three steps: (1) mobilization; (2) implementation; and (3) institutionalization. Without institutionalization, the innovation is likely to be terminated despite how well it may be communicated and…