People often think that power only flows downhill in school. The author draws on his own research observations, as well as the philosophy of Michel Foucault, to offer more nuanced insights. He explains that power is not a "thing" people can possess and that it flows in multiple directions, forming a web of influence. These insights…

The Consortium celebrated its 20th anniversary at the 2008 Professional Conference in Dallas, Texas in February 2008. Founding president Stephanie Pace Marshall and former presidents Joan Barber, Janet Hugo, Ron Laugen, Cheryl Lindeman, Dennis Lundgren, and Betty Stapp responded to questions about the organization and their involvement with…

Fourteen Texas community literacy programs received Job Training Partnership Act funds to form local partnerships. The collaborations enabled them to provide comprehensive, coordinated services to educationally disadvantaged people. The enhanced visibility of the programs enabled them to obtain additional funding after the initial grants ended.…

Addressing educational accountability concerns requires a new level of collaborative activity among state government, universities, local school districts, education service centers, professional associations, and the business community. Collaborative efforts can obtain greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness by using stakeholders' strengths to…

Community engagement should be at the heart of public school reform. In Texas, the Industrial Areas Foundation Alliance Schools demonstrate how parents and community leaders are serious partners in shaping school environments and educational programs. (SK)

The issue of recruitment of community college minority students who are underrepresented in higher education (Hispanics and Blacks) is complex and needs various programs which are unique and fit within the framework of the institution. Historical elements in Texas make it difficult to implement recruitment efforts. Recent statistics illustrate the…

A University of North Texas project used a team approach to develop a curriculum integrating academic subjects into vocational curricula. Ten teachers cooperated on integrated junior high/middle school lesson plans and classroom support activities. (JOW)

Futurists, policy makers, and other stakeholders propose sweeping reforms of the American education system. However, there is little evidence that the current add-on, underfunded system will reverse the failure pattern among children of color and those living in poverty. This article presents a dramatic and feasible proposal to establish a…

A parent of a kindergarten child in Texas began observing her child's classroom when she noticed that the whole language instructional approach described to parents before the beginning of school was apparently not being implemented as stated. The parent was surprised when her child's teacher suggested, after only six weeks of instruction, that…

This Texas plan to improve information and referral services in the area of developmental disabilities recommends an approach which focuses on providing improvements incrementally, spacing benefits over time, and periodically reassessing direction, alternatives, and costs/benefits. The plan stresses building a network which provides greater public…

The first in a series of publications addressing issues of linkage and coordination of job training programs in Texas, this paper focuses on the background of federal and state events requiring new strategies for coordination of job training programs in Texas and examines the nature and purpose of coordination of job training activities and…

This long range plan was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), P.L. 98-480 and to guide the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in the fulfillment of its statutory mission. The plan provides a framework for the establishment or expansion of programs to carry out the purposes mandated by…

This document presents recommendations to the Texas state legislature for meeting a 1997-98 goal of reducing the projected longitudinal and cross-sectional state dropout rates. Data for 1986 indicate that approximately 86,000 students were dropping out of Texas schools every year. The recommendations presented here were determined: (1) by tracing…

Espouses cooperation between college English departments and schools of education in the training of English and reading teachers. (AEA)

This report examines family and community experiences in transition from school to post-school life for students receiving special education services. It presents the vision of transition planning in Texas, the state of practice as reflected in a study of 27 students, and conclusions and recommendations. The transition planning vision calls for…