Briefly reviews findings from the school effectiveness literature and suggests local strategies and policies that will stimulate school reform. Thirteen characteristics of effective schools are discussed as model guidelines for action; four general policy recommendations are made. (RH)

This study reanalyzes data collected in 1977 from 95 Ohio school districts and develops a theory of dissatisfaction that may accurately predict school board elections. According to the theory, only when people are dissatisfied enough will they become politically active. Seven tables and 16 references are included. (WTH)

Describes an interprovincial visitation program for school trustees and administrators from British Columbia and Ontario designed to help them deal more effectively with educational issues produced by multicultural societies. Discusses visitation programs as cost-effective means to broaden the knowledge and thereby increase the effectiveness of…

A review of attitudes about the need for changes in the structure of postsecondary education in Australia and the role of the government in each sector concludes with the suggestion that the state take less responsibility for short-term planning and institutional development and focus more on long-term planning with strong involvement in technical…

Explains variations in per pupil expenditures among school boards in Ontario, Canada, using the "median voter model," which compares consumer behavior with government funding actions. With an inequitable tax price an important policy variable, the school grant program needs redesigning to achieve equity without sacrificing efficiency.…

The 1997 Virginia General Assembly passed HB 1851, which directs local school boards to require all schools under their supervisory control to conduct school safety audits. This type of audit should "assess the safety conditions in each public school." HB 1851 also directed the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a list of…

Intended as a practical legal guide for Texas educators and lawyers, this book contains three major sections dealing with several chapters on various school law topics, each prepared by Texas attorneys. Section 1, "School Boards and Superintendents," includes chapters on school board members authority and relationship with staff, the…

In April 1993, the Alaska Department of Education conducted an instructional technology survey of all schools and school districts. The purposes of the survey were to collect baseline data on the numbers and types of technologies for instruction currently employed in Alaska schools, to collect information on utilization of the technologies, to…

One reason all 50 states have passed laws requiring school personnel to report suspected child abuse is that the school may be the primary setting in which children interact on a regular basis with nonfamily members. Because teachers interact with children on a daily basis, they are particularly well positioned to spot unusual behaviors in…

Dress codes directed at gang attire present school officials with the dilemma of ensuring the safety of the students in a school environment versus the First Amendment rights of students to express themselves. A review of some of the court decisions limited to freedom of expression and general dress code cases serves as a foundation from which to…

The first of four chapters in this manual provides statements of the Minnesota State Board of Education's values, philosophy, mission, and learner goals, and explains the two purposes for which they were designed: (1) to provide a model for use by communities and school staff; and (2) to serve as a hierarchy for use by Department of Education…

This administrator handbook begins with statements summarizing Oklahoma's Division of Instruction and the guiding principles of education at the state's elementary and secondary levels. Following an outline of State Board of Education policies, the handbook lists various general regulations and progress criteria for the state as a whole.…

Educators should recognize both the special needs of single-parent students and their parents and be aware of child custody laws and the school's responsibility for a child's safety when parents divorce. Such measures as extended care programs and informal discussion between school staff and parents help ensure equal treatment in the education…

Intended as the beginning of an ongoing review of the California Community Colleges' (CCC) vocational education programs, academic certificate and degree programs, and short-term job skills and retraining programs, this paper sets out to: define economic development and clarify its role in the community college context; develop a consensus among…

Chapter 1 of this manual for school district officials, board members, and students of school administration introduces educational programs, expenditures, and revenues as the three basic considerations of budget making. While chapter 2 discusses major aspects of the general fund budget (resources availabale to finance the school district's…