A group of staff and parents in a Pennsylvania community developed a district strategic plan stressing character education. The original study group found three reasons for involving schools, including schools' historical commitment to character development, recognition of values education as an intrinsic part of teaching, and increasing crime and…

Although both professionalism and leadership are prescribed as cures for school problems, the two concepts are antithetical. The more professionalism is emphasized, the less leadership is needed. Teachers become more committed and self-managing when schools become true communities, freeing principals from the burden of trying to control people.…

Massachusetts middle school's Classroom-by-Committee program is based on town council model of subcommittees. Students briefed in self-management techniques choose committees that meet their needs while helping them develop critical thinking skills, set goals, identify problems, and generate solutions. Teachers facilitate learning, guide students…

In a sense, school reform is Chicago's "perestroika." As in Europe, an authoritarian, survivalist bureaucracy has collapsed, and a radical democracy is proposed as the solution to years of paralysis and backwardness. Unfortunately, the inexperienced Local School Councils lack vision and often promulgate commonplace solutions. Insistence…

Critics of outcomes-based education and proponents of vouchers, school choice, creationism, and tax limitation measures often seem to be advocating publicly funded private education. School leaders attempting to implement OBE or other improvement programs should describe programs properly, involve the community, develop and implement a…

Personal contact is the key to one principal's success. Effective administrators make their school community a family, expand on their administrative style for dealing with people, develop a community theme, return phone calls from colleagues and parents, save bad news for Monday, and have fun. (MLH)

Describes a successful K-12 alcohol/drug prevention program in Burlington, Washington, involving strong superintendent leadership and a close school-community partnership. The program boasts a mission to develop an alcohol- and drug-free environment, long-range planning, reliance on local data, a strong adult influence, appropriate funding, and…

In Eugene, Oregon, severely disabled students are successfully integrated into a regular high school program. The school provides support for and acceptance of the disabled students from staff, other students, and the community. (MD)

Academically successful schools need to master student discipline and accept that character development is as important as academic development. Provides recommendations on how schools can do both. (MD)

Discusses the role of the resource person and ways to coordinate school and community resource programs. (GB)

Using survey data, this article outlines the steps administrators can take to create effective community involvement. A table details the task assignment and evaluation of community members in such roles as consultant or member of a task force or committee. (JM)

Assuming that writing and reading must serve the goals of a liberal education (preparing young Americans for responsible citizenship), the Institute on Writing, Reading, and Civic Education promotes student writing to personalize civic relationships, to obtain or provide information or services, to evaluate public services, or to evaluate a…

A Colorado high school dramatically increased its effectiveness after its staff committed to creating an intimate, nurturing environment for students. Achieving this mission involved teaching students the prosocial skills necessary to cope with any authoritarian system, creating a culture fostering positive relationships and cooperation,…

In Temple Independent School District (Texas), the success of strategic planning is evident in increased community and parent involvement, renewed public confidence, and a sense of control over the future. Over 250 community and school people participated in developing the district's plan. Site-based strategic planning extended active involvement…