The concept of the professional development school (PDS) and the commitment to collaboration advocated by educational reformers derives in part from a recognition of the need to more fully incorporate the voices of teachers in teacher education and professional development. The Coolidge Professional Development School (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts)…

One of nine competency-based training modules for personnel preparation in early childhood special education, this guide focuses on behavior management and development of self control. All modules are adaptable for use with a general audience, direct service personnel, or administrators and are based on the following principles: developmentally…

This guide provides information for policy leaders who need to develop or revise action plans aimed at improving learning environments for an increasingly diverse student clientele. The self-assessment is organized into three sections. The first section introduces the self-assessment, defines key terms, discusses the conceptual framework that…

This report presents four papers about the use of technologies in education and a policy statement of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The papers were commissioned for a conference designed to stimulate discussion and action among leading technology specialists at all levels of education, private sector representatives, and…

In 1987, Arizona State University initiated a national study of two-year college faculty behaviors that contribute to educational equity. During phase 1 of the study, field interviews and a literature review were used to develop an inventory of effective faculty behaviors. To determine the emphasis placed on these behaviors, phase 2 consisted of a…

Skills in science (observing, inferring, measuring, communicating, classifying, predicting, controlling variables, interpreting data, and developing models) are not just essential for careers in science, but they are important for almost any career, as well as in daily life. This digest presents information on how parents can help develop their…

Through professional development schools (PDSs), the College of Education at Texas Tech University has attempted to link school and teacher education renewal with research. In 1990, the university and Lubbock Independent School District initiated PDSs at a junior high school and an elementary school. Three additional PDS sites have been initiated…

Research on effective schools has identified a safe and orderly environment as a prerequisite for academic success, but in recent years educators and policy makers have expressed concern about possible increases in the incidence of school-related criminal behavior. Between 1976 and 1991, blacks were more likely to be threatened, and more likely to…

In 1989, a long-term partnership began between International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation and the Austin Independent School District (AISD) to form Project A+ (later named the A+ Coalition), a program designed to be a catalyst for educational improvement by identifying fundamental changes needed to enhance education and to marshal community…

This study examined schools which had successfully blended gifted education programs into middle school environments in order to provide outstanding services to gifted middle grades students, and sought to determine the factors that made this successful blending possible. Five sites were visited from a variety of settings and schools that used…

This study used focused interviews, participant observations, and document review to identify five organizational and personal factors that 40 teachers (general education, special education, and specialists) in a small rural school district reported as affecting their receptivity to change: (1) the degree to which schools are ready for change; (2)…

This article reviews the existing anthropological and sociological evidence on school choice and educational stratification in Japan. Traditional linear models developed in the West have given little insight into how stratification processes actually occur. There must be analysis of the institutional linkages and organizational cultures of schools…

This manual is designed to support community organizations, concerned educators, and parents as they work to improve local public schools on behalf of immigrant students. Each chapter focuses on central elements of quality schooling from the perspective of the young immigrant. Within each chapter, an analysis of current conditions prevalent in…

In November 1991 a survey was conducted of all students in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) secondary schools. The initial report gave demographic information about the student population. This report includes subgroup profiles, such as the characteristics of female versus male students, the similarities and differences among racial and ethnic groups,…

The strategic plan for educational technology was developed by the Missouri Technology Task Force to assist state and local authorities in the creative application and appropriate integration of all technologies to achieve the broad educational goals for elementary and secondary Missouri schools. The specific goals and objectives of the plan…