Argues that multicultural education practices in most schools today have not adequately addressed the larger issues of social justice and equal access to educational resources. Discusses four profoundly multicultural questions educators must address: Who's taking calculus? Which classes meet in the basement? Who's teaching the children? How much…

Describes how Title I programs in No Child Left Behind Act can apply certain research-based strategies to improve the achievement of poor and minority students, including preschool and full-day kindergarten programs, extending learning into the summer, and accelerating school-year learning through the reduction of class size or the implementation…

Describes written responses from black high school students to question: What do you think is the number one reason African American children do not score as high as other ethnic groups? Includes selected comments in five categories: students on students, teachers, parents, schools, and environment. Summarizes student suggestions on what can be…

Describes characteristics of invitational learning: Affirmation, Contribution, Purpose, Power, and Challenge. Explains how teachers can extend learning invitations to students. (PKP)

Restructuring, the current name for school improvement, usually refers to technical, political/social, or occupational orientations. School improvement research discloses five approaches opening different passageways to school culture: collegiality, research, site-specific information, curriculum initiatives, and instructional initiatives. No…

Discusses 32 books outlining recent advances in the neurosciences and cognitive psychology. For introductory information, readers are referred to three books emerging from the PBS-TV series on the brain. Several books focus on specific brain research developments and on the cooperative/competitive human side of that research. Advanced reading…

Describes the development, attributes, and value of a democratic core curriculum, such as integrating self-interest and the common good, and valuing diversity. Argues that a democratic core curriculum should be available to students at all levels of public education. (Contains 12 references.) (PKP)

Reviews research investigating the effectiveness of for-profit schools operated by educational management organizations. (PKP)

Highlights some of the major findings of the December 2001 RAND report on charter schools and vouchers prepared by Brain P. Gill, P. Michael Timpane, Karen E. Ross, and Dominic J. Brewer. The report can be ordered from RAND at www.rand.org/publications. (PKP)

Asserts that effective onsite professional development for teachers must include weekly professional meetings (conversations) for teachers to improve teaching and learning. Provides examples and guidelines for weekly professional meetings. Includes the importance of creating meeting time. (PKP)

Describes five levels of evaluation to improve professional development: Participants' reactions, participants' learning, organization support and change, participants' use of new knowledge and skills, and student learning outcomes. (Contains 14 references.) (PKP)

Values are essential for the improvement of instruction because values are the source of and support for teacher behavior and values bring consistency and commitment to that behavior. (Author/IRT)

Case studies of six school districts point to ineffective, even detrimental teacher selection practices (recruitment limitations, screening criteria biases, hiring irregularities, and traumatic teacher orientations) and suggest ways for policymakers to help districts attract, employ, and retain talented teachers. Includes eight references. (MLH)

Students in cooperative classrooms encourage their teammates to do well because they also benefit. (MLF)

Discusses children of alcoholics as victims of fetal alcohol syndrome, family violence, retarded social development, and severe emotional scars. These children bring family roles to school that allow survival in the alcoholic home but are dysfunctional outside it. Educators can take certain steps to address these students' problems. Includes six…