A leadership academy is a formal professional learning opportunity for current school leaders, focused on augmenting knowledge and skills, increasing specialization, and refreshing leadership practices. States interested in supporting leadership academies through federal or other funding sources can look to current models of leadership academies…

The report contains real-world, proven school climate strategies to guide policymakers in building a comprehensive and coherent state-wide approach for improving school climate. It features 12 recommendations linked to existing state policy examples policymakers can use to build a comprehensive, coherent state-wide approach for improving school…

The content of this guide was derived from ongoing work of a working group on growth models coordinated and facilitated by the SLDS Grant Program's State Support Team. The Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant Program was asked by several states to review current growth models with the goal of determining the impact of different models…

The guide describes Project IMPACT (Implementing Mainstreaming Programs through Active Cooperative Training), an approach involving teachers, parents, and support personnel in Mainstreaming Planning Committees (MPCs) to consider general issues and procedures. Based on experiences over a 2-year period (September 1, 1979-February 28, 1982) of pilot…

Pennsylvania's school districts and area vocational-technical schools are required to submit long range plans to the Pennsylvania Department of Education every 5 years. Part of the planning process involves the development of strategies, or action plans, for achieving the long term objectives identified in the long range plans. This planning guide…

This program guide is designed to provide the educational community with the recommended plan for industrial arts (IA) in Pennsylvania. It outlines the program that is consistent with the mandates and recommendations of the 1984 Chapter 5-Curriculum Regulations of the State Board of Education and has been developed using current national IA…

To meet the demand for control of emotional outbursts and angry confrontations at public hearings, this school district developed guidelines giving the school board a stance of deliberation and utilizing a strong, neutral moderator to limit debate and still meet the public's right to be heard. (WTH)

Pennsylvania's distance education programs are a part of a national and international new trend in educational delivery. Planners need to work closely with school district officials and teachers in designing facilities that will enhance this new educational technology. (Author)

These guidelines are designed to integrate arts and humanities into the secondary curriculum by recommending the subject areas to be included, the classroom environment to be fostered, instructional approaches, possible courses, and methods of implementation at all levels from that of the teacher to the state department of education. The…

The purpose of this manual is to provide an accounting system that will accurately measure the financial position and operating results of a food service operation. The accounting system has been designed to be easily adaptable to the reporting requirements established by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of…

Intended for parents, the guide defines what is meant by an "exceptional" child, considers the educational opportunities open to the exceptional student, and offers suggestions on how parents can ensure that their child receives those opportunities. Sections provide the following information: definitions of various exceptionalities…

Discusses the recent rise in interest in the teaching of thinking skills. Presents brief outlines of eight school districts' successful thinking skills programs. All these programs were developed through careful attention to time and training and with an understanding that success is based on a long-term plan of action. (MD)

Instructional assessment is a systematic approach to solving student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional problems by identifying the key factors that have created or are encouraging the problem. The instructional support team (IST) process emphasizes assistance to students. Assessment in IST consists of ongoing analysis of student…

This guide for principals on how to be multiculturally sensitive is based on 223 responses to a Multicultural Sensitivity Survey mailed to principals across Pennsylvania in July 1989. There are numerous ways this guide can be used: (1) network to gain information; (2) network to offer information; (3) increase awareness with assemblies; and (4)…

This comprehensive overview of state and federal legislation concerning gifted education demonstrates that the primary source of law relating to gifted students is at the state level. Several administrative appeal decisions have been made in Pennsylvania. Litigation to expand entitlement based on federal law has been less successful than…