Deans from 53 colleges of arts, science, and humanities at major U.S. universities provided data about the structure of their colleges. These colleges were studied because structural changes are occurring and baseline data is needed. Forty-two percent of the deans reported that a formal study of reorganization of their colleges had taken place in…

In New England, school districts often look toward cooperative agreements as alternatives to further consolidation or "bigness." Cooperatives and collaboratives in Massachusetts are viewed as a politically acceptable alternative to further reorganization through consolidation. The emergence of collaboratives and the enactment of six…

This committee report represents almost a year of study of the various issues relating to the structure and organization of the constitutionally mandated board of education in Illinois. The committee's 31 recommendations are based on solicited expert testimony and a series of background and position papers. In addition, a highly detailed…

This report builds a case for survey feedback as a useful method of assisting schools to respond actively, rather than passively, to uncertainty and complexity in the school environment. The main argument is that passive responses, such as defensiveness and buffering, reduce educational effectiveness. Planning, an active response, creates…

Presenting both narrative and tabular data, this document emphasizes recent (1973-75) improvements in Poland's educational programs, policies, and legislation. Specifically, this paper addresses: (1) educational development during the 30 years of the Polish People's Republic (an historical comparison emphasizing post-war educational opportunities…

This report first details how American Samoa's public schools are organized. The public school system consists of early childhood education (ECE), elementary education, secondary education, and special education. In the 1975-76 school year, ECE operated 145 village centers. In addition to these centers, five year-old children from village and home…

The research methodology of this study included both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Samples consisted of school counselors from 66 Victorian, 33 ACT, and 71 NSW schools in Australia. Findings show that building genuine partnerships between school and external communities requires lots of effort, commitment, and time. Effectiveness of a…

Analysis of a state-wide survey and in-depth interviews with 15 home school families in Oregon reveals that the impetus for home schooling may be tied to the effects of contemporary culture on personal belief. Characteristics of religious and New Age home school families are discussed. (BJV)

Examines the ways in which school-level policies and procedures influence students' probabilities of being placed in the accelerated track in mathematics in middle school and high school. Data from interviews with 52 school administrators show that substantial variations exist among districts in student opportunities for the accelerated…

Develops a sociology of school establishments by examining 20 French colleges from 1981-86 (roughly equivalent to U.S. junior high schools and the end of French compulsory schooling). Examines prospects of meeting French government's goal of 80 percent of students completing secondary education through clarification of school identity, stronger…

This study sought to determine characteristics of schools and districts that enjoy the public's strong confidence and to explore how these characteristics are created and retained. A screening procedure produced useable data from 181 "high-confidence" public schools, 30 private schools, and 45 school districts. As part of a preliminary…

Three studies examined aspects of child care in New Zealand. In the first study, supervisors of 38 child care centers were interviewed about the organization of their centers. Based on the responses, categories were developed to describe the type of center, the persons responsible for management decisions, organization of care by age grouping, and…

This book examines the qualities of schools that successfully deal with the developmental diversity of young adolescents (10 to 14 years old). In part I, the author reviews literature on school effectiveness and develops a framework for evaluating schools that are not simply "effective," but are "successful." Seven criteria are outlined: (1)…

Examining the effectiveness of an organizational development plan, this study notes the changes in school climate in two Pennsylvania schools--a junior high and a middle school. Having selected the schools for their troubled educational environments, the authors gathered data for 2 years from interviews with students and staff, from a formal…

This paper reports the findings of an investigation of the effects of school organization and ability grouping on students' academic achievements in Great Britain. Data for the study came from the National Child Development Study (NCDS) conducted by the National Children's Bureau (NCB) of London. The NCDS surveyed virtually every child born in…