Describes how a Parent Council and school system administrators collaborated to develop a citywide magnet school desegregation plan, which increased parents' choices and introduced competition among public schools for the patronage of parents and students and for achievement of academic excellence. (RDN)

Reviews the development of magnet schools as an alternative to the politics that accompany other desegregation tactics, and discusses arguments for and against magnets. Focuses on the successful magnet schools of Kankakee, Illinois, a city with a small but socioeconomically diverse population, where desegregation was voluntary and parental…

Criticizes national education reports that call for a return to authoritarian schools in order to achieve excellence. Extolls the strengths and achievements for which magnet schools are responsible. (MD)

Second language immersion programs, originally developed in Canada some 20 years ago, have been implemented in a number of U.S. cities. Alternative forms of U.S. programs are described--enriched, magnet, and two-way bilingual--and research findings pertaining to the effectiveness of each are summarized and discussed. (Author)

Reports on a two-year study of magnet schools evaluating educational quality and desegregation. Findings show that magnet schools can improve the quality of education in urban school districts. (MD)

Briefly reviews the educational history of the People's Republic of China, discusses four specific avenues of structural reform in secondary education--joint business/government ventures, independent vocational schools, modified liberal arts schools, and regional coordinating centers--and points out parallel needs in US secondary education. (MBR)

For most children, the racial composition of their neighborhood determines the racial composition of their school. Segregated housing patterns translate into a highly segregated educational system, which can then result in disparities in educational opportunities and an institutionalized mechanism for the reproduction of racial inequality. To…

This paper explores issues related to magnet schools and racial diversity, reviewing research on magnet schools that underscores the importance of analyzing how effective magnets are in reducing racial isolation, how these data differ across districts, and what accounts for these differential effects. The paper also includes findings from a 3-year…

This book asserts that alternative programs remain a practical management strategy for educating diverse student learners, offering specific ideas for program implementation, accountability for student learning, and quality service provision. The information serves as an overview of important factors to consider for those seeking new approaches to…

This research explored the politics of educational choice through a case study of one public school testing the limits of difference in the British Columbia (Canada) school system in the 1990s. The Fine Arts elementary school was created by the school board based on pedagogical ideas from teachers. This fine arts magnet offered teachers a great…

This document consists of the five consecutive issues of the journal "Imagine..." published during volume year 3. Typical journal articles cover teaching academically talented secondary students in the following focus areas: (1) learning anywhere and everywhere; (2) accessing distance learning; (3) developing talent in the arts; (4) considering…

Analysis of the school desegregation experience in Los Angeles, California, suggests that the voluntary methods chosen by the board of education have had very small impacts on the overall pattern of segregation. A mandatory metropolitan plan would be the best way to achieve stable, long-term desegregation in Los Angeles. (Author/MJL)

Houston (Texas) public schools have been declared officially desegregated. After trying many desegregation methods with varying degrees of success, the school district has used magnet schools in conjunction with majority-to-minority transfers as its primary desegregation tool. Attention has also focused on equal facilities, staff stability, and…

The John Ball Zoo School, an alternative program for highly motivated sixth graders, prepares independent learners to tackle the problems of life in the 21st century. (Author/WD)

Describes admissions procedures, graduation requirements, curriculum, and achievement of students in the Science/Math Mini-School Program, housed at F.W. Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C. The program is especially designed for talented minority students who show promise in the fields of science and technology. (Author/GC)