Highly prescriptive curriculum, testing, and teacher evaluation policies, such as those in New York State, actually impede teachers from teaching responsibly and effectively. These policies insist that teachers demonstrate a set of uniform behaviors unrelated to effective teaching for particular students. To work toward a new reform paradigm,…

The most significant finding of various commission reports is stakeholders' lack of involvement in the decisions affecting them. School board's major function is to develop processes that ensure stakeholder participation in developing and implementing a shared vision for education. Board should ensure that all competent administrators and teachers…

Schools have become a convenient scapegoat for the nation's economic problems. U.S. education must change to meet new competitive standards. Although a more highly skilled, empowered work force is needed, reforming education alone would produce too many smart workers and too many dumb jobs. School choice will fail because funding is inadequate and…

Besides reorganizing the central office to support instructional goals, the Vancouver (Washington) School District has passed bond and levy issues to revitalize the infrastructure, changed to a three-year middle school configuration, designed three new school facilities, and allocated $1 million for school improvement initiatives. The goals are…

Today's calls for school restructuring demand a greater response than piecemeal tinkering. The impetus for total organizational change started over 30 years ago in Japan as industrial leaders adapted W. Edwards Deming's beliefs and strategies concerning psychology, systems, perceptual theoretical frameworks, and causes of variation. Quality…

Today's superintendents are unaccustomed to sharing significant power with others and are expected to educate all youngsters effectively. Superintendents' responses to differences with their boards can profoundly affect progress in school improvement. By stressing dialog over discussion, superintendents might keep their jobs without sacrificing…

Beyond no-establishment and free-exercise principles, widespread agreement now exists on many thorny church-state questions: school prayer, teaching about religion, Bible clubs, equal access, excusals, distribution of religious literature, religious holidays, creationism, released time, and character education. One issue, speaker versus audience…

After a decade of math reform, the Pittsburgh Public Schools learned some valuable lessons. Assessments must be aligned with appropriate instructional targets; standards-based instruction involves more than manipulatives and cooperative learning; teachers need appropriate instructional materials and continuing professional development; district…

Although Title IX (sex discrimination) issues have received widespread notice at the universities over the past decade, this federal legislation is now expanding athletic opportunities for secondary-level girls. Growing parental activism is one reason. Noncompliance with federal law is commonplace. Montana, California, and Mississippi cases are…

Despite threats from charters and vouchers, the Edmonton (Alberta) Public Schools are parents' first choice because they address the community's changing needs. Boasting 20 years of experience in alternative programming and open boundaries, Edmonton has introduced two dozen innovative programs, focused on student achievement, and experienced…

Using research findings and statistics to support a policy argument often leads to misinterpretations and exaggerations of public school performance. Two experts illustrate this point by discussing examples of distorted high school drop-out rates, student performance on standardized tests, and international comparisons of U.S. and Japanese…

The "Net Generation" refers to children born after 1977 who are growing up as intimate computer users and enthusiastic Internet surfers. Technoliterate youngsters will challenge educators to accommodate their learning needs in imaginative ways. The Internet has democratized information and demolished geographical borders. Memorization is…

Out-of-level testing in state and district assessments is becoming more popular under the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This practice (and use of different norm-referenced tests) confounds interdistrict comparisons and contributes to inequitable assessment practices. Proper scaling can remedy this situation. (MLH)

To bring all students to a more realistic sense of what the world expects of them, the role of education needs to be significantly redefined. This includes preschool day care, improving school practices, and encouraging positive values for the children. (MLF)

Community involvement, union participation, and school leadership are behind the Rochester, New York, school reform. Measures include school-based planning committees, a reorganized salary schedule offering professional wages to attract and hold the best candidates, and a career ladder for teachers. (MLF)