A brief history of legislative acts and public policies which have affected the supply of black teachers is given. Various educational reform movements are summarized. Questions about the future of education with regard to educating an increasing number of minorities equitably are posed. (JL)

The articles in this theme issue focus on urban education. The first essay, "The Changing Urban School" by Rosanne Bacon, notes the challenges of urban schools. As the nation's cities change to reflect a more diverse, multicultural, and multiethnic population, urban schools must meet the needs of a rapidly changing student population. Teachers are…

The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform is committed to making high-performing middle-grades schools the norm rather than the exception. The Forum believes that specialized preparation of middle-grades educators will produce competent and caring teachers who are well-qualified to teach young adolescents. Therefore, the Forum strongly…

This book is primarily about the problems of preparing teachers for assignments to schools in low-income neighborhoods and is based on an extensive case study of a specific attempt to deal with these problems. Chapter 1 introduces some basic issues in the training of teachers for assignment to schools in low-income neighborhoods. Chapter 2…

This article reviews reasons for official reform of teacher training in Luxembourg. Includes information about past laws, elaborates on aspects of teacher education that need further attention, and concludes with proposals for actions that meet these needs. (AEM)

Examines positions on English education reform in the early 1900s, specifically the following professional concerns: finance, curriculum, teacher recruitment, and professional leadership. Notes that attitudes and circumstances of the past are repeated in the present. (JG)

The percentage of black teachers in the teaching force has been declining since the 1970s. While academic performance of black college students has been steadily improving, there has been a steep decline in black college enrollment, and few of those limited numbers of black college students are interested in teaching as a career. Includes…

In early January 2003, "Education Week" released a new report on the status of teaching in the United States and concluded that many states are taking steps to recruit and retain skilled teachers, but few efforts focus on the schools where these teachers are needed most. Drawing upon a large national database, "Quality Counts…

In addition to being one of the largest states in the country, California is also known for innovation and change. Reform in California often presages change throughout the country. The views of California teachers are, therefore, of special Significance to policymakers. This survey examines the 1985 views of California teachers for strengthening…

Presents a critical analysis of the reform of French preservice teacher education since 1990; in particular examining the difficulty of introducing change and noting how clearly defined political decisions can be diluted in the implementation stage by various stakeholders. Examines the creation and organization of new teacher training institutes,…

Details a project developed to provide stimulating science classroom environments as incentives to draw talented science majors into teaching. Focuses on the experiences of one student. (DDR)

The Chicago Public Education Fund operates as a venture philanthropy: It raises capital from individual and institutional donors and then provides grant funding and direct, hands-on assistance to grantees. With a grantmaking budget totaling $25 million between 2000 and 2008, it seeks to recruit and develop high-potential new teachers and aspiring…

This report examines a grass-roots movement for teacher diversity and development: paraeducator pathways into teaching. The desire to recruit a more diverse pool of teachers for urban schools and critical shortage areas has spurned a renewed interest in paraprofessional career opportunity programs. The 149 paraeducator-to-teacher programs…

This study compared the affective attributes of a sample of beginning teacher education students in the 1990s with a sample of beginning teacher education students of the 1980's to investigate whether or not educational reform actions were accompanied by changes in the affective characteristics of individuals entering teacher preparation. The data…

This speech by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley discusses how education is improving as the country moves into the 21st century. Section 1 sums up the United States' history of giving millions of Americans the education so long denied to them (immigrants, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and women). Section 2 examines a new…