School psychologists, administrators, teachers, and specialists in special education settings ranked the restrictiveness of 13 procedures (such as planned ignoring, response prevention, time-out) designed to decrease inappropriate behaviors. Although general agreement was indicated by the 118 respondents, variability was noteworthy, especially in…

Changing the program structure of a higher education institution requires careful attention to existing and developing legal rights, especially in the areas of faculty contracts, student contracts, and program-related decisions. (Author/MSE)

Reviews several issues facing public libraries, including the impact of information technology and its effect on traditional library services, the need to select library administrators who are comfortable with the technology, and the need for lay bodies that oversee library services to be aware of the complexity of the situation. (Author/CLB)

Compares efficacy of Bicultural Effectiveness Training (BET) and Structural Family Therapy (SFT) used with Cuban-American families in which adolescents manifested symptoms of conduct disorders and/or social maladjustment. Finds significant improvement as measured by family structure, acculturation/biculturalism levels, and adolescent behavior…

The University of Redlands responded successfully to financial and administrative crisis by tapping institutional and community pride in the institution's stature, affirming a dual commitment to liberal education and career training, developing a new governance system, and reorganizing financial and program priorities. (MSE)

The traditional orientation of liberal arts colleges toward teaching continues to make them major contributors to teacher education. The commitment these colleges make to teacher education and the governance structure that helps them devise and carry out effective programs argues strongly for supporting teacher education in liberal arts colleges.…

Research findings, supported by other research projects, identify the elements relevant to school improvement as school focus, school autonomy, and staff development. A chart based on three recent major literature reviews provides a comprehensive listing of supportable assertions regarding unusually effective institutions. (MLF)

Nearly every state has initiated a comprehensive plan for improving K-12 education. These reforms include new standards for students and schools, stricter requirements for the teaching profession, new sources of funding for education, the strengthening of leadership and management positions, and programs for special student populations. (RM)

Three principals, a publishing company marketing manager, a director of instruction, a teacher, and an assistant superintendent express their opinions on the past year's major reports on schooling. Issues addressed include the "Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education," vocational education, administrative leadership, and social responsibility…

In October 2002, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) contracted with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MRP) to help identify issues pertinent to the evaluation of Title I and to propose feasible evaluation design strategies. This design effort took its lead from two sources: (1) the Title I Independent Review Panel (IRP); and (2) a more…

Stark County is the 7th largest county in Ohio. In 2001 the researchers formed a P-16 Compact and began looking at the accomplishment of two goals: raising the high school graduation rate and increasing the number of students going from high school to college. Then as now, it was important for them to know the context of Stark County in Ohio and…

This report documents the Connecticut Department of Higher Education's efforts to investigate and document best practices in assessing student achievement as measured by workforce success. That effort is part of a five-state project to Define Best Practices for Responsible Accountability Models in Higher Education funded by a U.S. Department of…

The purpose of this guide is to provide a middle school literacy model, to describe practices and strategies of literacy education, and to assist school communities as they implement a balanced Turning Points literacy program that is responsive to the particular needs of middle school students. This guide includes: (1) the rationale for a Turning…

Long considered an under-appreciated and under-utilized position, the role of the assistant principal is finally getting the attention and respect it deserves. In this truly indispensable companion, current and prospective administrators will gain concrete suggestions and solutions to maximize their impact, effectiveness, and satisfaction in this…

This book presents a fresh view of action research as a methodology uniquely suited to researching the processes of innovation and change. Drawing on twenty-five years' experience of leading or facilitating action research projects, Bridget Somekh argues that action research can be a powerful systematic intervention, which goes beyond describing,…