The educational funding system in Massachusetts has become less equitable than before, since the passage of Proposition Two and a Half. A decision-making process driven by zero-sum economics, rather than educational needs, is particularly harmful to urban youth; failure to educate every young American threatens the nation's social and economic…

Examines the issue of teacher preparation in light of changing demographics directly related to increased immigration, describing the current context in which many new teachers will find themselves, reviewing the teacher education literature to ascertain how the profession conceptualizes immigrant children and the education of those who will teach…

Discusses the problems of designing a multicultural curriculum that meets the needs of students from a wide variety of social and ethnic backgrounds without compromising their cultural identity or personal integrity. (FMW)

The smaller the school district, the higher the achievement, when the socioeconomic status and per student expenditure are taken into account. Administrative and parental involvement should be determined by the size of the school district regardless of the socioeconomic level of the community. (BJV)

Discusses school choice policy itself, the debate between proponents and opponents, and the range of possible school choice programs. Addresses the roles of federal and state governments, the courts, and school administrators in school choice plans. Presents recommendations for achieving an educational environment that engages the minds of all…

Argues that the following steps will effectuate educational reform: (1) provision of more latitude and flexibility in school governance; (2) business commitment to using and upgrading the inner-city workforce; (3) consumer understanding of rights and options available within public education; and (4) government understanding of the danger of…

Discusses the theme of the special issue, "Excellence and Equity in Education: Models for Success." Emphasizes the need for concern with both educational quality and its prerequisite, equal educational opportunity, and that strategies exist to improve the quality of instruction for minority students. (FMW)

Discusses the impact of accountability on educational quality at the state level, exploring various Texas student performance measures over the past decade that show improvements in school performance for minority and impoverished children. Discusses data from Texas Assessment of Academic Skills scores, National Assessment of Educational Progress…

Surveys urban school principals about desirable alternative education programs for low-achieving students, and identifies schools and programs that have been effective in promoting educational excellence in this population. Explores the nature of effective schools, and examines the principal's role in establishing models for educating children in…

Assesses the current educational-reform movement through an examination of the effectiveness of peace education and conflict resolution programs in urban schools. The current reform movement is seen as based on assumptions that ignore the structural crisis in the U.S. economy, use as their baseline data a standard of education excellence from a…

Challenges the following assumptions: (1) parental choice will motivate schools to improve programs to compete more effectively for students; (2) private not-for-profit schools will respond to marketplace incentives; (3) research indicates an advantage of private over public organizations; (4) public choice theory promotes school improvement; and…

Provides a historical unfolding and account of cultural pluralism as an approach to student acculturation in the education of diverse urban populations. Traces the origins of a shift away from the "melting pot" notions and the emergence of multicultural ideas. (JB)

Discusses, on a national level, how service learning relates to the school-to-work transition programs. The author specifically examines service-learning and school-to-work strategies for revitalizing urban education. Examples are provided to illustrate urban school/community cooperation in preparing students for careers, college, or immediate…

Describes some of the demographic characteristics of students and teachers, explains some of the implications of these for teacher education, and offers some suggestions for how teacher preparation programs should be designed to respond to these demographic realities. Argues for teacher preparation that is population based and contextually…

Describes a professional development research project concerned with equity in mathematics education. Project goals include teacher collaboration to learn about equity, racism, and schooling. Also, through the sharing of personal experiences, teachers learn how gender and cultural bias affect mathematics learning and their interactions with their…