Asserts that students see grades as an indicator of effort unconnected to the content of the course while teachers regard grades as a measure of achievement within a discipline. Discusses some of the current controversies and approaches concerning grades and how they relate to school reform. (MJP)

With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the authors' goal was to produce an analysis that would allow educators and policy makers to set priorities "across" categories of support (e.g., the relative importance of expectations as compared to information and awareness) and "within" categories (e.g., whether…

The optimum situation for a school system is one in which bureaucratic influences and practices support classroom learning. The study reported in this policy brief examines a transformation toward this state of affairs in the country's eighth largest school district, the 140,000-student San Diego City Schools. An unusual leadership arrangement…

The essays in this volume examine the future of public schooling in the United States and what it will mean to be a leader in public schools. It focuses on the issues most likely to have an impact on American society within the next 20 years. The essays are as follows: "Introduction" (Milli Pierce, Deborah L. Stapleton); "The Limits of Change"…

Every Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) state has taken actions aimed at holding schools accountable for improved student achievement. Several SREB states are recognized nationally as leaders in implementing school-accountability systems that are getting results. SREB states are making progress in improving student achievement on indicators…

Examines Project IMPACT, a school-based teacher enhancement model for elementary mathematics instruction designed to improve student performance and support teacher change in predominately minority schools. Comparative data show IMPACT schools having significantly higher mathematics achievement scores that are persistent over time. Instructional…

This document is the third annual status report of the Spencerport (New York) More Effective Schools/Teaching Project. Section 1 describes nine documents developed during the project; identifies persons participating in the project; states the applicability of effective schools research to all levels of a suburban school system; and sets forth the…

The author builds upon a foundation which identifies courageous school leadership and the professional learning community as the center of effective school reform. The author offers six guiding principles steps for creating and sustaining a high-performing school: (1) Common mission, vision, values, and goals: (2) Systems for prevention and…

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is President George W. Bush's education reform law passed by Republicans and Democrats in Congress. This guide for parents summarizes the main provisions of the law, answers common questions, and provides information on where to find additional resources. The first part of the guide provides an introduction and…

In order to examine trends in educational reform in Kentucky, two studies of student portfolio evaluations as perceived by Kentucky teachers were described and compared. Under the Kentucky Educational Reform Act, student portfolios can serve as a basis for official evaluation of school performance. The first study, conducted in the fall and spring…

This report examines the second and third years of the Chelsea-Boston University (BU) partnership in which BU manages the Chelsea, Massachusetts, school system. The report summarizes the activities of the partnership (begun in 1989), examines the impact of key players and events, and evaluates BU's impact on Chelsea to date. The partnership's…

Two middle schools, one junior high school, and two senior high schools participated in a study conducted from 1977-81. The study project included both development and research activities. The goal of development activities was for each school to start or refine administration-organization arrangements and improvement strategies. Research…

INERTIA AND PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES HAVE PREVENTED A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FROM ACHIEVING THEIR GOAL OF PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AT EVERY LEVEL OF ABILITY TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIALS AND TO PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. EFFECTIVE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION SHOULD PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION WHICH…

The Quality Education through Staff Training (QUEST) program is described. The professional development program was conducted in the Detroit Public Schools. The major goal of this project was organizational change and renewal to influence the quality of classroom instruction. This was to be achieved by helping teachers and administrators to effect…

This research brief describes the findings of a study to determine which of the High Schools That Work (HSTW) practices appear to be most effective in raising student achievement. The study explored the effects of six clusters of practices: (1) curriculum standards; (2) academic and career/technical integration; (3) teacher practices; (4)…