This booklet is designed to assist state leaders as they develop their process for allocating funds to schools. It suggests components of a state-allocation process that are based on research and field experience with successfully implemented comprehensive school-reform (CSR) models. The document provides guidelines for defining the eligibility of…

This paper reviews the characteristics of effective internship field experience and programs. The internship serves an important function in preparing educational administrators, as it bridges the gap between classroom practice and professional practice. Although the internship has been an integral component of many administrator preparation…

Guidelines are offered to ensure a stimulating and challenging learning environment for gifted learners. Curriculum modifications are suggested in the areas of: (1) content (complexity, abstractness, and variety; organization; purpose and choice; interaction with peers; focus on issues, themes, or questions; and role of methodologist,…

First-year outcomes of a restructuring project in four Maryland middle schools are summarized in this paper, with a focus on new rules, roles, and relationships. Methodology involved interviews with 52 teachers and building administrators and 18 state department of education staff members; observation of school improvement teams; and document…

The assistant principalship may not be the most productive ground for future principals. Assistant principals have traditionally been disciplinarians or building managers isolated from the realities of the principalship and the school's instructional program. Some researchers have advocated dividing the assistant principalship into two roles: one…

The effectiveness of many specific drug prevention strategies is not known yet, primarily because of poor program evaluation design. However, evidence has shown that interventions based on the social influence model are effective. Regardless of strategies employed, all prevention programs must start early; involve coordinated efforts with the…

Improving the verbal scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of a group of 20 high school juniors was addressed by the implementation of an SAT coaching program. A computer program, "SAT Success," and a video, "SAT Prep Video," along with practice tests from the Educational Testing Service were employed. Students were…

This paper argues for a rethinking of what it means to "do science" in language minority classrooms by putting forward a view of science as a sense-making practice. Before outlining a sense-making perspective on scientific practice, some familiar images of what science is like in many classrooms are invoked in order to lay out a few critical…

In the late 1980s, the Department of Justice began a campaign of prosecuting dairy companies and individuals associated with these companies for colluding on contract bids to supply milk to schools and military installations. Data were derived from: (1) interviews with officials from the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, and Justice; (2) a…

The educational policy implementation process is examined in this book, which shows how policy implementation has evolved through several stages during the past 25 years. The first two stages primarily addressed macro-implementation issues of whether and how policies initiated at higher levels of government became implemented in school districts…

The utility of modified item response theory (IRT) models in small sample testing applications was studied. The modified IRT models were modifications of the one- and two-parameter logistic models. One-, two-, and three-parameter models were also studied. Test data were from 4 years of a national certification examination for persons desiring…

This report describes how 22 Louisiana public school counselors were selected to attend a 5-day summer program to acquaint counselors with several computer programs relevant to counseling. It also describes the follow-up mail survey regarding the counselors' motivation for attending, evaluation of the program and accommodations, and opinions on…

Students experience homophobia in both covert and overt forms. Covert homophobia exists through the neglect of gay, lesbian, and bisexual topics in graduate psychology programs. Overt homophobia exists through the misinformation and perpetuation of stereotypes by faculty, textbooks, and program administrators. Unfortunately little data exist…

The Center for the Advancement of Learning was established at Muskingum College (Ohio) in 1991 to coordinate services to disabled, at-risk, and international students. The Center has developed the PLUS Program and the PASS Program. The PLUS Program is a special support program for students with learning disabilities, which provides individual and…

Cincinnati (Ohio) has established a collaborative effort between the private sector, the Cincinnati Public Schools, and public elected officials for the purpose of reducing dropouts and reducing youth unemployment. Started in 1986, the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) immediately began to study relevant data from the schools, defined at-risk…