This paper, specifically addressed to teacher education in Texas, discusses teacher induction programs. A review is presented of some successful induction programs around the country and similarities and differences in some of the salient features of entry-level programs. The variety of roles institutions of higher education can play in such…

School closures in Colorado's San Luis Valley were surveyed, listing the pros and cons of closing school during the potato harvest. In 1958, 12 of 31 elementary schools and 7 of 13 secondary schools ceased operation for periods up to 18 days during the potato harvest, closing schools to 4,447 students. Of these students, 904 elementary children…

Each Oregon school is required to have a council responsible for developing a staff development plan, improving the instructional program, and coordinating school-reform efforts. During the Eugene district's implementation phase, central-office administrators played a key role in providing organizational development training and in allocating…

In 1989, the state of Texas implemented a broad initiative to improve instruction through using technology. A survey of teachers in the Fort Worth Independent School District identified four factors (time, training, technology availability, and teacher-type tasks) critical to technology integration. The district offers Trainer Institute, Bootcamp,…

A project team's success variables are autonomy, outward focus, accountability, and dependence. Administrators can prevent committee-it is by allowing teams to pick their own leaders; communicating who has "chartered" the team; establishing clear goals, decision-making expectations, and time-lines; advocating consensus; and providing…

This report is an excerpt from the National Education Commission On Time and Learning Final Report, "Prisoners of Time," published in April, 1994. In it, the Commission concludes that the reform movement of the last decade is destined to founder unless it is able to harness more time, and better management thereof, for learning. The…

A description is given of the Mentor Teacher-Internship Program, which is funded by New York State and operates under state guidance. The focus of the program is on building a mutually rewarding relationship between the mentor and novice teacher. Steps through which mentor-intern dyads can progress on their way toward an effective, optimal…

This paper presents a general overview of the literature on beginning teacher induction as it has evolved over the last 3 decades, highlighting characteristics, extent, and perceived value of induction. The paper also describes successful programmatic features, gaps in the literature, and future trends in induction. After offering a brief history…

The author describes a program designed to place teachers in short-term positions in local businesses and industry, which plan would act as a motivation device in the wake of Proposition 13, and would ascertain whether teacher skills are sufficient to be employable outside of education. (KC)

This paper examines four issues related to religion and the public schools: (1) released-time education; (2) variations in interpretation of court decisions; (3) teacher attitudes toward religious instruction; and (4) freedom of religious expression. Released-time education programs were held to be constitutional in "Zorach v. Clauson."…

Strategies for fostering educational use of technology include (1) creating an environment supporting exploration of information technologies, (2) providing teacher incentives, and (3) developing teacher learning opportunities. (MD)

Dozens of Australian "laptop" schools are following the lead of Methodist Ladies' College (an independent pre-K-12 school) in personal computing and are using some of their pioneering professional development models, including in-classroom collaboration, "slumber parties," and build-a-book workshops. Guidelines for implementing…

Describes a Learning Development Model developed by a Michigan school working to foster an evolving process of staff collaboration and curriculum integration. Supportive professional-development activities include staff-planned and -facilitated workshops, staff writing and sharing of learning activities, and local university partnerships requiring…

This policy paper focuses on religious challenges to the public school curriculum, specifically those involving claims that public schools are prompting "secular humanism"--an allegedly antitheistic creed that places human reason above divine guidance. While some courts have recognized that "secular humanism" may be considered…

Chapter 12 in a book on school law focuses on religious activities within the schools. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that bible reading and prayer recitations are not permissible. However, objective study of religion as history or literature or the study of comparative religions would be acceptable. The Court has given approval for excusal from…