Describes the position of Specialist in Continuing Education (SCE) developed by the Cooperative Educational Research Laboratory, Inc. The SCE conducts seminars with small groups of teachers engaged in self-assessment and professional growth. Seminars focus on teachers finding their own solutions to their problems and on professional…

Reports on the evaluation of the Model Clinical Teaching Program, a year-long program for preservice teachers which emphasized the realities of teaching, enriched the work of veteran teachers, and improved classroom learning via university-school system teaming. Opinions of both interns and clinical instructors are reported. (SM)

A discussion of recent trends in state educational reform stresses the importance of addressing two challenges: teaching all students higher order thinking and developing more systematic, coherent policies. The article describes the challenges, examines how state policies in the 1980s addressed them and how districts responded, and suggests future…

Describes a new role within the University of Southern Maine's Extended Teacher Education Program: the school/university site coordinator, which spans boundaries between the university and participating school districts. Surveys of site coordinators found that they worked closely with interns and cooperating teachers, emphasizing improvement of…

Describes Connecticut's ongoing school reform efforts, which began around 1985. The reform process involves creating, supporting, and revising a coherent set of policies for improving teacher learning that are also aligned with standards for students. Planning includes state department staff in collaboration with teachers and principals. The state…

Teacher quality, however defined, is usually seen as the responsibility of schools of education. Rarely is it viewed as the responsibility of academic departments in the arts and sciences--that part of college or university where prospective teachers study the academic content they will draw on as teachers. Only recently has teacher quality come…

This paper explores teacher roles and advocates a type of teacher leadership that stimulates change and empowers those they lead. Citing changes in visions of leadership in business circles and the many recent attempts to reform education that have met with resistance, the paper notes that teachers, rather than advocating change, are generally…

This publication contains two articles which focus on the teaching profession within the context of systemic reform. The first article, "Systemic Reform: Teachers and the Condition of Teaching," discusses the role and the preparation of teachers. The level of coordination among the various systems that relate to the teacher's role is…

This essay posits a problem of "fit" between five streams of reform (subject matter teaching, diverse student populations, uses of student assessment, social organization of schooling, and professionalization of teaching), and prevailing configurations of teachers' professional development. It argues that the dominant…

This document outlines an overall plan of action for improving school effectiveness in the Spencerport (New York) school system. This master plan (developed by a leadership planning team consisting of key personnel in the Spencerport system, in cooperation with the Institute of Research on Teaching, College of Education, Michigan State University)…

The Comprehensive Education Reform Act of 1984 (CERA) provides the mandate and framework for the Tennessee Career Ladder Program for teachers and administrators. The development and structure of the Tennessee Career Ladder Plan for teachers, a five level program which provides for teacher certification based upon performance, is discussed in this…

Following consideration of many reports on the status of public education, the Utah State Board of Education announces its commitment to the reform of the content, processes, and standards of public education in Utah. The board sets as its primary goals the attainment of excellence in education and the improvement of productivity. The reform will…

Focus in this report is on ways to improve the learning process in higher education through programs aimed at the improvement of college teachers and college teaching methods. Divided in two sections (Regional Action for Change and Resources for Change), various authors present information on target areas for improvement. Such areas include…

Contains 11 articles, including first-person accounts, on the work and work environment of teachers. Discusses the factors that make teaching satisfying or frustrating and offers suggestions for change in both the policy and organizational framework of the schools and the roles, relationships, and ethos knitting together individuals in particular…

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…