State legislative policies for educational restructuring are examined in this handbook, with a focus on restructuring from the perspective of state elected officials. Following an executive summary and introduction, the second and third parts explain the need for restructuring and features of the restructuring movement. Problems and obstacles are…

Cycles of educational reform initiatives and their effects on practice are reviewed in this paper, which focuses on the relationship between state and federal policy and local practices. The first part discusses the first generation of reform that began with the passage of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Such reforms were…

An evaluation of North Carolina's public school system is provided in this report, which uses student academic performance as a primary indicator of educational effectiveness. The first two sections describe characteristics of North Carolina and its schools, with a focus on public school population, enrollment, and funding. Section 3 focuses on…

Findings of a study conducted by the North Carolina Governor's Task Force on School Violence are presented in this report. A survey of 129 school systems yielded a 100 percent response rate. The data collected indicate that levels of violence increased in 59% of the state's public schools over the past 5 years. A total of 14 Task Force…

This policy brief clarifies the definition of charter schools and explores their place in school restructuring and reform by describing existing charter schools in Minnesota and California, examining legislative and contract guidelines, and discussing the future possibilities of charter schools. Charter schools are sponsor-created and…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation at the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, are working together with states and other groups to improve the measurement of child outcomes in state welfare evaluations and in…

To become the primary agents of school restructuring, today's coalitions must sharpen their focus and adopt a long-term outlook. This report explains how to turn a coalition of different perspectives and interest groups into a coherent, long-term strategic operation with a shared sense of purpose. Educators are advised to begin by identifying and…

A study identified misconceptions about resource allocation for teacher salaries that generate distrust among stakeholders, and the study examined an Arkansas legislative response to that distrust. Methodology consisted of three questionnaires. The first one was administered to the state financial director/coordinator in each state department of…

In 1989, South Carolina passed the Flexibility Through Desegregation Program as a means to provide exemptions from state oversight to those schools that had demonstrated sustained improvement. The first section of this paper provides an overview of educational improvement legislation enacted in South Carolina, specifically, the deregulated schools…

This policy brief explores the charter-school concept, looking specifically at: (1) the development of the charter-school idea; (2) current models of charter schools; (3) issues regarding the development of charter schools, such as district reluctance, teacher concerns, organized opposition, fiscal issues, and admission policies; and (4) progress…

Findings of a study that examined the first 2.5 years of radical state intervention in the operation of the Jersey City Public Schools are presented in this paper. Control of the district was assumed by the state department of education in October 1989. The first section describes the historical background of takeover action in New Jersey and its…

A vision of the new California high school is presented in this document, which outlines the principles of school reform. The key to successful restructuring lies in developing a comprehensive reform statement based on the following components: creating curricular paths to success; developing powerful teaching and learning; establishing a…

Findings of a study that examined the progress of three Indiana schools (Beech Grove Senior High School, Indianapolis; Linton-Stockton Elementary School, southwestern Indiana; and Richmond High School) toward educational innovation goals under the 21st Century Schools Pilot Project are presented in this paper. Each school is described in terms of…

Guidelines to help local school systems in Maryland develop a comprehensive emergency plan and to increase student awareness are offered in this handbook. Following the introduction, chapter 1 outlines the roles of all participants in emergency planning and response. Chapter 2 describes the process for preparing an emergency plan, including…

The progress being made in Utah toward the six national education goals, as established by the nation's governors and the Bush Administration, is described in this report. Individual sections address the state's progress toward each of the six national goals and feature: (1) performance and status information; and (2) examples of current and…