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)

Examines the implementation of the comprehensive school reform package enacted by the Illinois legislature in 1985. Reform initiatives have produced little controversy in the educational community. District superintendents use the reform law to effect their own, local reform agendas. Superintendents respond to reform pressures by adopting…

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.…

Elementary teachers were more apt to implement the language arts curriculum as specified by the district than were secondary teachers. However, curriculum fidelity was extremely low at both the elementary and secondary levels. Teachers who followed the prespecified curriculum attached greater importance to implementation tasks and their…

Teachers' perceptions of power to influence curriculum policy were surveyed over 120 teachers in three suburban school districts of varying socioeconomic levels. Results suggested insecurity among teachers as they perceived themselves subject to sanctions by school superintendents and school boards. (Author/GSK)

Twinning (or clustering) is the joining together of two or more (usually small) schools administered by one principal, in order to share resources and services. A survey of 104 of the 170 Ontario school boards examined prevalence of twinned schools, organization and administration of twinned schools, types of resources shared, and advantages and…

Four critical first steps to establish trust among school boards, schools, and the public are: (1) building a community-wide consensus about the essential purposes of schools; (2) agreeing on how to provide choices for minority viewpoints; (3) selecting key education leaders; and (4) providing these leaders with the freedom they need to do the…

Describes the implementation of twinning (sharing administrative staff) in two Ontario elementary schools; the actions that the board of education undertook to monitor and assess the demonstration project; and a survey of parents and community members evaluating whether twinning was cost effective, improved program quality in the two schools, and…

Uses historical, state-level schooling data, manufacturing productivity measures, and quantitative research to examine relationships between changes in rate and distribution of public school expenditures, public schooling organization, and state-level economic growth from 1880-1940. Significant effects for per-student spending on school…

Describes what schools in the United Kingdom should be doing to implement the duty to promote racial equality. Suggests that schools should assess and monitor the impact and operation of policies and address the duty through the curriculum. Also examines what local education authorities and the national educational bodies should be doing to…

The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Equal Access Act in "Mergens" alters the role of school officials in the recognition and functioning of student groups. The views of the justices are summarized followed by issues that may arise if a school decides against, or in favor of, having a limited open forum. (101 references) (MLF)

Discusses the formulation and findings of a nationwide survey which focused on materials selections concerns of school media centers: (1) whether a materials selection policy exists that is approved by the school board; (2) number of library media specialists; (3) whether library media specialists feel external pressure regarding materials…