Explores history of Head Start and, to create another way of conceiving of the organization, shifting definitions and conflicting interpretations of parental involvement and staff development. Also draws on interviews with women involved with Head Start and concludes that the certainty and stability characterizing public policy since Enlightenment…

Discusses the staff development strategies included in the technology plans of 27 school districts. Highlights include teachers' concerns about technology implementation; measures of teacher and student performance; and recommendations for strengthening technology staff development initiatives to increase the likelihood that they will result in…

Offers a few suggestions on how to implement a school or district content-area reading and writing program. (PKP)

Effective camps share seven habits that are essential elements of success: internal leadership development, explicit expectations for staff, ample camper preparation, personal relationships, supervisors-in-residence, two-way communication flow, and commitment to self-improvement. Three key outcomes for directors, staff, and campers resulting from…

Using dual conceptual lenses of open-systems and micropolitics, investigates how four middle-school teams engage with their colleagues to construct an identity, assume leadership roles, and situate themselves in their schools. Findings suggest that teams and educational leaders need to recognize the influence of existing organizational structures…

A survey of all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that more than half the states utilized a Higher Education Consortium to facilitate personnel development and capacity building in the early intervention disciplines. Information about the membership, mission, and meeting structure is provided as well as possible explanations for why…

This study evaluated the effect of a training course for staff working in British learning disability residential services on their attributions and practice. Decreased usage of the attributional category "communication deficit" was found 8 weeks later. Also, practice appeared significantly changed from baseline to follow-ups 4 and 5…

Describes a project to determine how teachers can best implement new ideas and strategies learned at staff development programs by using peer coaching as a follow-up to training. The project, based on an understanding of the usefulness of mathematics manipulatives, increased teachers' use of a new teaching strategy. (SM)

Describes goals for training for antibias practices. Goals involve (1) reexamining curriculum practices and materials for the purpose of enriching the curriculum; and (2) working with children, staff, and parents to overcome the biases of the dominant culture. Includes a suggested activity for beginning antibias training. (DR)

A model staff development program used at Bristol Eastern High School, Connecticut, suggests a role for principals to play in promoting and maintaining a professional development program with significant faculty involvement. It involves opportunities for teachers to interact with one another via sharing sessions, peer observations, and committee…

This article defines the strategic planning process at the school level, focusing on steps involved, ways to diagnose school readiness for undertaking the effort, skills needed for effective process facilitation, and implications of strategic planning for staff development. Such planning is effective in improving the organizational ability of…

A survey completed by 43 of 55 participants in a training institute assessed the treatment used in preparing vocational personnel working in transition services for disadvantaged students and concluded that the instructional treatment made a significant difference in the participants' performance on the postassessment. (JOW)

Applies Tom Peter's "thriving on chaos" concept to schools suffering from "innovation overload" due to educational reform demands. Views school improvement as combining previous research on managing change and school effectiveness. Lists eight effective school factors and relates knowledge of the change process to British…

Discusses reasons for establishing in-house training programs with the installation of library automation systems. Training issues discussed include who should provide training; who should receive training; program objectives; program content; training methods; documentation; and future training requirements. A program provided at the National…

Discusses recent successes with innovative training program for staff working with chronically mentally ill. Describes program development, program structure, program content, and funding issues. Emphasizes value of collaboration between academia and mental health service agencies. (Author/TES)