With its roots in clinical and educational psychology, school psychology is an ever-changing field that encompasses a diversity of topics. "The Oxford Handbook of School Psychology" synthesizes the most vital and relevant literature in all of these areas, producing a state-of-the-art, authoritative resource for practitioners,…

Monitoring school performance has become an overriding concern in American political and educational circles, and some of that scrutiny is being directed at the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). However, there is concern that pressure to prove the effectiveness of Essential Schools may overshadow efforts to actually improve education. Taking…

This project examined the use of quantitative statistical models to bridge the gap between commonly available university data and knowledge for decision making. A method using a multivariate statistical model is discussed in the context of academic quality in higher education. A "problem-oriented" data base designed to study quality and…

This study sought to rank the quality of psychology departments for graduate study by number of journal articles published in the period 1983 through March, 1988. Referring to the 16 content classifications used in "PsycLit" (the CD-ROM version of "Psychological Abstracts"), as well as a list of 70 leading institutions, a…

This paper outlines three school award programs: the Ford program, the Secretary of Education's Program, and the For Character Program (Chicago). In providing descriptions of each program, the similarities and differences are analyzed. The programs share three basic assumptions: (1) that some schools are better managed than others and that…

The Indicators of Quality Schools instrument is designed to be used in school self-studies to identify priority areas for improvement or closer study. Uses for the instrument are outlined in this user's guide. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that the staff is oriented to evaluating school practices. The instrument may be completed by small groups…

A key factor in the decline of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores (a factor that has been overlooked) is the concurrent decline in the availability of textbooks. The simultaneous decline of both SAT scores and textbooks suggests a strong cause-and-effect relationship. A recent study by the Ohio Education Association indicated that there are…

The following effective teaching practices identified by recent educational research are discussed: (1) carefully structured, sequenced, and paced instruction; (2) good classroom management; and (3) careful plans and decisions about goals, content, materials, and activities of instruction by teachers. Well-articulated instructional practices and…

Current writers on the topic of educational leadership express essentially the same concerns: the absence of leadership and vision, the tendency to select survivalism over risk, and the control by managers rather than leaders. These writers highlight both the craving and the need for leadership. Several recent publications provide insights into…

The educational reform movement of the 1980's has sought to deal with the current problems in the educational system of declining standards, unprepared students, and low levels of morale among teachers by seeking to impose higher and more rigorous standards to restore academic quality. The experience, however, of excellent business companies in…

"In Search of Excellence," by Peters and Waterman identifies one characteristic of corporate excellence as "unusual effort on the part of apparently ordinary employees." The community college has many students who fit into the category of "ordinary people." Their academic performance can be maximized by recognizing their individual differences,…

Although social science has contributed much to the student of schools, the perspectives of earlier thinkers about school effectiveness can fill some of our present need, too, by emphasizing the social values most important and then applying them as educational standards. Former generations viewed good schools normatively rather than empirically…

As the videodisc becomes a potent force in the industrial and the educational market, it becomes increasingly important to develop high-quality, effective videodisc programs. Interactivity is an important evaluation criterion when analyzing a program's instructional effectiveness. The following interactive features can be incorporated in the…

A project was undertaken in New York State to develop a low-cost statewide system for identifying and disseminating information on two-year college programs or activities that are effective in addressing a major occupational education issue. The resulting system consists of the following components: (1) a call for nominations, which involves the…

Designed for use by those administrative personnel in local school districts who are responsible for preparing written releases of the district's educational quality assessment (EQA), this booklet contains aids and suggestions for making the release more effective. Each section of the booklet deals with a different aspect of writing the EQA,…