Redesigning the education system to prepare citizens for the 21st century is a monumental challenge. To accomplish the job, understanding and support must come from people in all parts of the education system and community. Building support and understanding among various groups of people requires effective communication strategies and skills.…

By examining 12 new middle school programs in 7 school districts in various regions of the United States, this study focuses on how decision-making and planning processes were reflected in grade reorganizations. From interviews with decision-makers involved in each of the cases, the new middle school programs were observed first for their…

A second wave of educational reform is closely scrutinizing fundamental issues (structure, organization, management, curriculum, and instruction) and calling for at least partial restructuring of the public school system. After presenting a scenario of an ideally restructured elementary school, this paper explores the…

Administrative operational objectives for funding year 1981-82 are presented to inform Marshall University's administrators, faculty, and students of the direction of current management activities. Stated objectives of the administrative offices that report directly to the president and those of the Provost's Office and the administrative offices…

This book is for teachers who wish to have a direct part in planning curricula. Part one discusses principles that teachers can use in making curriculum decisions in their classrooms and some concepts of the purposes a curriculum should serve. Part two outlines types of educational research studies and suggests ways of assessing them. A discussion…

Block scheduling and intensive or extended-time scheduling have been appearing in high schools across the United States. This guidebook is designed to help each school find the best route to achieve this organizational change. The book's premise is that structural change in schools is not sufficient to create meaningful educational improvement.…

This book provides guidelines for leaders who seek fundamental and lasting school restructuring. Following the introduction, chapter 2 presents an explanation of the core concepts of school restructuring and explains the significance of those disabling habits of mind and practice that dominate most traditionally organized high schools and inhibit…

Through scenarios describing the actions of a district restructuring committee, this book shows how the "interlocking spheres of the organization" cooperate, with roles and functions blending in leadership teams and study groups. The book provides a research-based, practical guide for renewal that keeps one goal central: improving student…

School-based management (S/B/M) pilot projects, funded by the Washington State Legislature, were established to develop and strengthen the S/B/M concept to produce meaningful change. Bringing together recent educational research and modern business management theory, S/B/M operates on the assumptions that individual schools are the largest…

The guidelines presented in this publication focus on the education of gifted students within Catholic schools. Initial sections address the challenge of teaching gifted sudents and note the variety of gifts and talents. Goals are presented for educating gifted students in terms of three areas: (1) school (organizational options, directional…

Guidelines are offered for those involved in a shift from a more secondary oriented, departmentally organized school to a middle level perspective that is more sensitive to the needs of young adolescents. (MLF)

The idea of organizing secondary schools into smaller units has gained support in the last decade. This guidebook is designed to support efforts to develop an effective small-unit plan for high schools. The first two sections highlight the benefits of small-unit organizations and identify the institutional barriers to implementation. Proponents of…

Despite their autonomy in school governance, school districts are creatures of state legislatures, and changes in school district organization are necessary to keep pace with changing needs. Accordingly, the types of Wisconsin school districts are described, and state statutes governing each type of district are provided. The first type--common…

The Survey of Institutional Characteristics of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) collects the basic data that describe the universe of postsecondary institutions in the United States and its outlying areas. Data are collected annually on three different forms; appendix B of this documentation describes the use of these…

Every community in this nation wants safe, orderly school campuses, but we remain far from reaching that objective. Crime and safety issues continue to plague America's schools and to interfere with the education of our children. This document provides a framework for school improvement that specifically addresses crime and safety. Chapter 1, "The…