College faculty leaders, presidents, and board members must affirm their obligations to the public trust, in part by taking more responsibility for creating accountability through accreditation rather than serving political interests. Institutional integrity is built by cultivating innovation, self-scrutiny, and ongoing public discourse. (MSE)

Describes an experimental course at an urban school that focuses on experiences of service work outside the school as well as involvement in the political and social structure within the school. Suggests ways that schools can design a curriculum that reflects on social activity as an element of community life. (MJP)

Case studies of four long-term rural Oklahoma superintendents, including interviews with community leaders and school district personnel, identified characteristics and attributes that have contributed to the success of these superintendents: effective leadership and communication skills, an acute sense of community awareness, active involvement…

The Trenton (New Jersey) Office of Policy Studies was established in conjunction with Thomas Edison State College to analyze emerging issues in urban public policy. The program is active in the internal life of the city's government while maintaining an independent academic orientation that shields it from political and practical pressures.…

A partnership between Intel Corporation, a tribal K-12 school, a public school system serving a reservation community, and the American Indian and Science Engineering Society resulted in plans for developing technical education centers, a community-based curriculum, a college success program, a teacher enhancement project, and other strategies for…

Community service learning encourages human service-oriented teachers. The paper defines service learning and its status in education, provides examples from four teacher education programs, discusses why it is effective in developing human service-oriented teachers, and raises issues about challenges of implementing service learning within…

Outlines 11 principles to guide schools as they plan their character education programs. These include a definition of character, developing the school as a caring community, a comprehensive and intentional approach to developing good character, and the relationship between character education and the academic curriculum. (MJP)

A new model of learning communities based on lifelong learning is emerging. The approach integrates nonformal and formal learning so that all learning is recognized. The expertise and learning resources that exist in every community are mobilized so that community purposes are achieved. Examples are given of learning communities in rural British…

Describes a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership between a teacher education program and a large African American Baptist church, focusing on the nature of the partnership, commitments to building the relationship, and challenges and promises in nurturing trust and attempting reciprocity. The paper describes an "equal status" internship…

A partnership between Wayne State College, Wayne (Nebraska) community schools, and the local chamber of commerce produced fiber-optic telecommunications, Internet access, technology integration, automated libraries, computer networking, and a technology curriculum. The article describes project design, implementation, and growth, as well as…

Presents four brief essays expressing the importance of combining service learning and citizenship education. Authors Benjamin Barber, Joan Schine, Harry C. Boyte, and James C. Kielsmeier stress the advantages of learning democratic concepts and principles, as well as understanding civic government, through student participation. (MJP)

Looks at the daily activities of one preschool in southern China. Reviews the attitudes of educators and parents, and the application of social theory to curriculum and pedagogy in the Chinese preschool. Places special emphasis on the words and ideas of the teachers and administrators in reference to the policies created by the government. (MOK)

A collaborative approach, both within and outside of the school system, will effectively and comprehensively address the barriers that hinder educational and social service delivery to homeless children. School social workers can be instrumental in assisting this vulnerable population by identifying, assessing, and developing strategies for…

Nominations for the 2002 Australian Rural Education Award are presented, each with a short description and contact information. The 22 programs range from primary and secondary schools to university school collaborations. Programs address a wide range of topics, including school readiness, Aboriginal education, music, experiential learning,…

A 3-year study in Toronto (Ontario) schools examined educational practices that engender exclusion or inclusion, especially of racially marginalized groups. Findings suggest that an inclusive learning environment introduces topics of race, critically examines cultural stereotypes, has high expectations for minority students, encourages…