A study of three schools is presented. The causes of internal conflicts which often lead to the demise of such schools are discussed. Article concludes that despite their transient nature, these schools serve an important purpose, both as legitimate educational alternatives and as examples of new methods for existing schools. (RW)

Describes recent efforts at educational reform in the USSR and analyzes the first results of these actions. Notes that educational reform requires not only improvement in content and organization, but also a change in teachers' consciousness and increased funding. Lists eight programs established to stimulate reform. (KO)

The idea of organizing secondary schools into smaller units has gained support in the last decade. This guidebook is designed to support efforts to develop an effective small-unit plan for high schools. The first two sections highlight the benefits of small-unit organizations and identify the institutional barriers to implementation. Proponents of…

Ten junior high schools and ten senior highs--among which were six city and fourteen suburban schools--in the Twin Cities metropolitan area were studied; their principals responded to a preliminary questionnaire and an "Organizational Health Description Questionnaire" was administered to all certified personnel at general faculty meetings. (JM)

To identify factors which affect the acceptance of innovation in school organizations, a career development product entitled Operation Guidance (OG) was the object of a case study. Five basic organizational characteristics were used to roughly quantify attributes of the organization of the six schools studied. The characteristics were:…

This paper outlines several schemes for developing quality private schools for inner city students. The basic assumption justifying the proposal that such schools be independently managed is that the urban public school systems have patently failed to educate poor children. Therefore, a new national network of independent schools should be…

This seminar was a thinking, writing, idea-generating conference ("think-tank") aimed at producing ideas that would be helpful to principals presently implementing a flexible modular schedule and to those contemplating such scheduling for the near future. Participants agreed that flexible scheduling cannot be considered seriously except in…

A network of quality schools has been suggested as a means of achieving excellence in Illinois public schools. Such a program to be effective, must be specific while at the same time addressing the broad and complex needs for education. Also, the proposed network must be built upon the mistakes of the past and must stimulate renewal at the local…

The educational changes that seem to offer the greatest long-term benefits are those that focus on modifying the behaviors of teachers, administrators, and students in the interest of good schools. (Author/MLF)

Describes Pope John Central High School in Elgin, Nebraska, one of the most innovative secondary schools in the state. (CB)

Author describes a design now being tried in a few schools in the midwest", and urges the idea of the school as supportive environment" for learning. (Author/SP)

Concludes that at present it is not possible to state whether the advantages of the nongraded school outweigh the disadvantages because lack of operational meaning has resulted in a wide variety of organizational programs labeled nongraded, and non conclusive data are available which favor either the nongraded or graded organizations. Includes a…

The principles embodied by the Gary public schools of the early twentieth century could, even today, be considered innovative. (RW)