Explores benefits derived from the "Gardendale Family" (a vertically aligned team of K-6 classrooms in which students remain throughout their elementary school careers). Highlights a community-based research project which served as a vehicle for fostering cross-age learning opportunities, connecting students' learning to their community,…

Increased juvenile violence in schools has led to suggested solutions that are politically expedient but fail to address what makes violence so appealing. Instead of school uniforms, conflict resolution programs, or media rating systems, a grass roots approach of alternative programs, parental involvement, and youth support systems could repair…

Identifies elements of successful approaches for at-risk students. Discusses three educational ideologies, five evaluation criteria that reflect overall school quality, joint use of internal and external evaluation, the importance of school culture, balancing common and culturally relevant curricula, professional development of teachers, classroom…

PTAs in the northwest are regaining momentum and membership by becoming involved in advocating for education reform, seeking funding, promoting child safety, seeking equity, addressing discrimination, providing school enrichment programs, establishing site-based management councils, involving parents in educational decision making, addressing…

Considers how the State Systems Change granting process has emerged as way to promote systemic educational reform. It identifies similarities and differences among three major systems change initiatives in special education (i.e., transition), vocational education (i.e., school-to-work), and general education (i.e., Goals 2000). (DB)

Reports a case study of how organizational culture relates to the issue of sexual orientation at a Catholic college, focusing on cultural barriers facing lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and the cultural dynamics that contribute to the failure to change the culture of the institution. Implications are drawn for practitioners and suggestions…

Examines issues related to school reform, professional development schools, and change in teacher education curricula, describing the evolution of teacher preparation courses within Vermont secondary schools that are integrating teacher preparation programs with school development plans. Preservice interns work in local high schools, assisting in…

Attaining the goals that higher-education reformers target (making the academy more accessible, affordable, and effective) via technology is likely to require a significant overhaul of postsecondary institutions, including the use of time, resource allocation, roles of faculty/staff, and institutional mission. Closer examination of how technology…

Describes the transformation of the philosophy of the teacher education program at the University of South Africa from a traditional, fundamental pedagogical approach to a pluralistic problem-centered approach that encourages trainees to develop their own creative potential. Course outlines and anticipated outcomes are included. (Author/MSE)

The president of California State University, Northridge, at the time of the 1994 earthquake reflects on the decisions she made following the disaster, concluding that leadership in such a crisis is dependent on an individual's value system and that leadership is seen in performance, not position. Specific examples are discussed, including…

This article reports on one part of Project REFER (Referral and Evaluation procedures For Education and Rehabilitation), which identified barriers to effective school and vocational rehabilitation collaboration and strategies for addressing these barriers as indicated by four stakeholder groups: secondary special education staff, vocational…

The role of the college athletic coach has changed substantially in recent decades, with the ideal of the coach as an educator obsolescent. Institutions must work with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and coaches' associations for reform, addressing three major issues: need for a better hiring process, provision of meaningful…

A discussion of the high level of student borrowing to pay for higher education looks at the situation today, examines college cost and aid trends, explores implications for the future if students continue to increase their borrowing, and offers a proposal to create a new generation of loan forgiveness programs through a public/private…

The Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale II (DESB-II) was administered by teachers to 1,801 students in grades K-6 in 17 rural school districts. Results revealed that 7 of the 10 high-risk behavioral factors tapped by the DESB-II were considered problems by the majority of rural teachers. Includes recommended classroom interventions.…

Examination of the role of parental involvement in the school restructuring process in three Alberta (Canada) elementary schools reveals that the roles and responsibilities of parents must be clarified, that criteria are needed for measuring success in relation to parental involvement, and that participants need support while they struggle to…