The principal of a school that used a school and community survey (described in the previous article by Regina Paul) explains how the survey was used to improve instruction. (Author/JM)

Regarding technology-based educational improvement, systemic reform involves two major shifts: including possibilities for "distributed learning"--using information technologies off-campus to enhance classroom activities; and reconfiguring existing budgets to free up money for innovation, instead of relying on special, external…

Provides two examples of the use of the guided-experience approach to teach the U.S. Civil War to eighth-grade students and a life-science unit to third-graders. Describes four key competencies teachers must master to successfully use this approach: Develop community, use materials creatively, question effectively, and master the subject. (PKP)

Prospective charter schools in California must address educational design, outcomes, assessment methods, governance, staffing qualifications, health and safety procedures, racial balance, admission requirements, retirement benefits, employees' rights, financial audit procedures, expulsion and suspension procedures, and attendance alternatives.…

Through her studies of "subordinated populations," Shirley Brice Heath has committed herself to fostering appreciation of diverse cultures and understanding how those cultures affect children's learning experiences. While at Stanford University, Heath began studying neighborhood-based organizations in three major cities. These groups…

Concern over low student achievement led to creation of a community-based Maryland mentoring program for at-risk African-American students. Mentoring was successfully used for teaching and coaching, strengthening racial harmony, promoting social change, ensuring equal education, and creating opportunities for personal empowerment. By portraying…

After years of watching administrators bully children, teachers, and parents into reform, a Fairbanks (Alaska) elementary principal decided to be a facilitator, not a dictator. Assuming a "servant leadership" role, this principal garnered community support for transforming an old, unwanted school into a new math-science learning center…

Change began in Saint Charles (Illinois) School District with a few teachers implementing new ideas in their own classrooms. Organized change began as principals and other administrators encouraged teachers to learn and grow. While teachers were developing process writing and whole-language programs, district embraced systemic change by entrusting…

Historical memory is part of an organization's culture and should not be forgotten. Stories acquire more power and persuasion each time an initiative is imposed without attention to how people think and feel about it. The Historygram process provides a collective forum for reviewing an organization's past. (MLH)

To nurture the spirit, young people have to participate in activities that help them make meaningful connections. They must be guided in real-life situations to develop a moral code and sense of civic pride. Service learning is a spiritual, esteem-enhancing affair that often blurs lines between giver and receiver. Compassion is learned by hands-on…

Schools cannot meet challenges of reform without first doing a better job of connecting with parents and the public. According to Public Agenda reports, educators are out of touch with typical views of parents and the public. Most people are doubtful about advocated practices such as detracking, holistic reading, early use of calculators, and…

An Alberta high school principal describes the process of transforming a small vocational training school into an innovative school of science and technology. While preparing school plans, this principal learned the importance of open discussion. Community participants identified seven topics for further study that were later incorporated into a…

Positive rites of passage are sorely lacking in today's society. In our culture, teenagers experience several passages: the major transformation at puberty, a challenging transition from middle to high school, and completion of high school. Two programs show how educators can guide students from adolescence to responsible adulthood. (MLH)

Inquisitiveness is what drives children's learning. Cognitive scientists have devised constructivist theory to explain how an individual progresses from curiosity to new knowledge. Formal schooling has struggled unsuccessfully to simulate real-life learning situations. Emerging brain research supports bringing the community into the learning…