This book seeks to raise the discussion of globalisation's effects on teacher education, development and work, and its reforms and institutions, to a more theoretical and analytical level, and to provide specific examples in the comparative tradition to illustrate teacher policy in the context of education systems' widespread variability and…

This book examines how the structure of schools might be changed so that students in their formative years are able to learn in a manner that allows them to be more creative. The modern world is shrinking as technology and connectivity create new ways to live, communicate, and do business. Education and learning must follow suit. The author…

Many people tend to think of the economic problems of higher education as fiscal concern--as a business office problem in financial management. But the full scope of improvements needed in resources management to make higher education more cost-effective is much broader than mere financial control. A central part of resources management must deal…

As agencies have pushed for greater performance and public accountability over the past two decades, some incremental improvements have been seen. All too often experience reveals that these improvements are temporary. This book provides a comprehensive examination of what leaders at all levels of the educational system can do to pave the way for…

This book explores how to forge policies that preserve the internal autonomy required for campus creativity and diversity while ensuring the external accountability demanded for campus performance and results. It attempts to separate the reality and rhetoric of performance funding. The chapters are: (1) "The New Accountability"; (2)…

This book explores how standards are bringing about changes in elementary schools and conveys what standards-based education in elementary schools looks and feels like. Chapter 1 tells the story of Andrew as an emblem of the common fate of children in an educational system that did not know its purpose. Chapter 2 sketches the history and…

This research-based book provides details on how educators can dramatically increase student achievement. It offers experience-based ideas and strategies that can be applied to any school or district. The chapters are: (1) "Focus the Mission"; (2) "Increase Academic Rigor"; (3) "Establish Supportive Accountability"; (4) "Introduce Cooperative…

Non full-time faculty--whether adjunct, part-time or contingent--has become the lifeline of a vast majority of colleges and universities. They teach many of the foundation and core courses taken by first- and second-year students, teach professional courses in which their own life experiences are invaluable, and step in at short notice to fill-in…

Over the past 25 years a major shift in political ideology has refocused educational politics from equality issues to issues relating to excellence, accountability, and choice. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) first passed in 1965. NCLB legislation is a continuation of the educational…

This highly acclaimed volume in the "Defending Public Schools" series is now available in paperback from Teachers College Press. It is a practical, necessary addition to the work of administrators, teachers, policymakers, and parents as they negotiate the difficult path of how to best teach and educate today's children and youth. This…

"Policy and Performance in American Higher Education" presents a new approach to understanding how public policy influences institutional performance, with practical insight for those charged with crafting and implementing higher education policy. Public institutions of higher learning are called upon by state governments to provide…

In this publication seven authors discuss school-system decentralization and whether or not it has an impact on curriculum. The first article maintains that decentralization does affect curriculum. It presents a history of the move toward decentralization, considers basic aspects of decentralization, discusses decentralization as it now exists in…

Based on the philosophy that public school education depends on the taxpayer for support of the institution, administrators must be accountable for the learning to be achieved as stipulated before the process begins, for the wise expenditure of the funds allocated, and for the task of keeping the public informed of such activity. This book has…

This report discusses deep curriculum alignment and is designed to serve as a practical guide to an educational strategy that embraces the philosophy of "what is tested is what is taught." Chapter 1 describes misconceptions and misuses of rhetoric about public education, popular myths about tests, and the nature of curriculum alignment.…

This inaugural volume of our Spotlight Series features recent "Harvard Education Letter" articles on testing and new reports never before published on this important topic. Contributors address such issues as how educators can manage the "avalanche" of tests; whether the benefits of high-stakes tests justify the risks to…