This study uses rich empirical data from Brazil to assess how a government program (PDE) that decentralizes school management decisions changes what goes on in schools and how these changes affect student outcomes. It appears that the PDE resulted in some improvements in management and learning materials, but little change in other areas including…

This paper presents a "recorded history" of national leadership standards, a critique of that history, along with a conceptual framework for how the national standards movement is viewed. The analysis offers a deconstruction of the recorded history, emphasizing the specific events surrounding the spread of educational leadership standards. A…

Describes changes taking place in two school districts committed to individualization of instruction. (SP)

Describes the case of the School City of Gary, Indiana, which in September of 1970 contracted with the Behavioral Research Laboratories to operate the Banneker Elementary School on a money-back guaranteed performance basis. (JM)

Teachers are not adequately engaged in collaborative inquiry where it matters most, in the daily learning-teaching interactions between students and teachers, leading to failure in developing true learning communities by majority of school improvement efforts. Collaborative analysis of student learning (CASL), a particular form of learning…

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) asks that states "restructure" schools that fail for six years running to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) toward full proficiency on the part of all students by the year 2014. Although restructuring efforts by most states have been modest, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 2002, directed the School District…

The author finds the National Commission on Excellence in Education's report, "A Nation at Risk (1983)," deficient in three major aspects. It underestimates schools' contributions; it identifies the wrong problem; and it prescribes simple solutions for complex problems. (JMK)

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has recently developed a new protocol for accrediting schools entitled "Focus on Learning" (FoL). This monograph explains how the FoL process can influence student learning and serve as a vehicle for school improvement and accountability. The following…

Disagrees with the article by Kevin Ryan appearing in this issue recommending moral values education in the schools. Questions choice of moral system, whether schools are the place to begin moral reeducation, and how moral education alone can revive a depleted educational infrastructure and undervalued teaching force. (SM)

Discusses the tendency of universities to focus on the disciplinarity of the humanities as opposed to promoting interdisciplinary connections within the field. Argues for interdisciplinarity instead in order to reinvigorate university humanities programs and provide students with the knowledge they need. Warns against improperly practicing an…

Education reforms such as "A Nation at Risk" and "Goals 2000" have come and gone. However, we can be confident that the goal of student improvement shall not pass if the core mission is student learning. The true mission of learning has prompted educators to ponder the following questions: How do we need each student to behave?…

This review considers three areas of findings from research on district roles in reform, drawing particularly on the studies of claimed successful districts. First, the author identifies the challenges confronting district efforts to implement systemwide improvements in student learning. Then, he summarizes evidence about how successful case…

This report presents the highlights of a conference held to critically examine the state of education in America and to set goals for the future of education in America. Those participating in the conference included public and private school teachers and administrators, college teachers and administrators, college students, parents, state…

The development of IGE principles, practices, and ideas is detailed by notable educators. (MM)

This issue focuses on decision making. The term "D[cubed]M" used throughout the issue means data-driven decision making. D[cubed]M is not merely crunching numbers or translating statistics; it is about creating a picture to see where you have been and to determine where you want to go. Provided is a special D[cubed]M checklist to figure out how…