Portland State University (Oregon) has substantially changed its administrative organization through multiple, interrelated strategies: consolidation of units; streamlining of middle management; staff training and professional development; a quality initiative; campus technological conversion; and joint ventures with a sister institution. A clear…

Teachers, students, and parents surveyed in a rural school district regarded elementary physical education programs as important but inadequate. A university-school collaboration assisted classroom teachers in redesigning the physical education curriculum and included consultation services in the form of school visitations and follow-up inservice…

An approach to collaboration in social skills instruction for students with disabilities or other special needs is described. The Teaching Social Skills Program involves a four-step evaluation process, with various interventions for students who either cannot or will not demonstrate prosocial behaviors. Teacher training in collaboration skills and…

Describes a plan developed at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, to recognize, foster, and celebrate cultural pluralism and racial/ethnic diversity. Considers campuswide efforts and plans in the areas of affirmative action, faculty and staff development, retention and curricular initiatives, student life, and community…

Identifies the following nuts-and-bolts issues that must be addressed when establishing school-linked service programs: (1) planning; (2) targeting; (3) governance; (4) information systems; and (5) staffing. Political and policy issues are extremely important in seeking partnerships among independent agencies in an intergovernmental setting. (SLD)

With the exception of teachers, most educators are convinced that principals can have a powerful leadership role in curriculum and instruction. Achieving lasting educational change requires specific strategies, such as adaptive problem solving, school-level focus, compatibility, administrative leadership, teacher involvement, top-down or bottom-up…

Explores the changing role of the collection development librarian in relation to the issues of budgetary constraints and the impact of electronic technology on academic research. The characteristics, skills, and knowledge required on the job are defined, and different approaches to acquiring them are offered. (Contains 17 references.) (EAM)

Describes the planning, facilitation, continuation, and evaluation of Designing Successful Learning, an effective staff development program created to facilitate district restructuring and improve student outcomes. The program focuses teachers' attention on cooperative learning, interdisciplinary instruction, performance assessment, student…

Two professors in the University of Oregon's College of Education reflect upon their consultation and research experiences and share their insights about organization development in education. They discuss such areas in organization development as self-study, value systems, budget, peer cadres, teamwork, conflict management, and staff development.…

Describes the implementation of a training course in computerized educational resource management provided for staff of Pedagogical Resource Centres in Catalonia (Spain). Training in telematics is explained, including documentary training and an ongoing process of permanent training assistance; the telematics infrastructure is discussed; and the…

Determines and clarifies the differences and similarities between the goals and strategies for science teaching as perceived by elementary school teachers in Japan and the United States. Discusses teaching methods, content, and materials; lesson plans; classroom management; and student evaluation. Concluding comments address staff development in…

Three themes are identified in response to several papers about teachers' cognition and instructional improvement of students with learning disabilities: (1) the teacher's dilemma between attention to the individual or the group; (2) the content of the curriculum and perspectives on knowledge and knowing; and (3) staff development. Researchers are…

Explores teachers' reactions to changing management cultures and argues for a complex reading of their responses. Utilizes data from several ethnographic studies that examined primary school teachers' reactions to the fact that the strictures and obligations of their vocation have become more professional. Many older teachers left whereas younger…

Five schools and districts recognized by the United States Department of Education for excellence in professional development used student needs to guide staff learning. This paper describes each model, noting common key practices (e.g., plans are based on student achievement, community support is crucial, site-based decision making is used, local…

Describes a California project which encourages educators to follow best practices for staff development and school improvement. The project helps them evaluate their staff-development plans by examining five essential questions about staff development and its connections to student success, professional climate, standards, and assessment. The…