Adopting a seven-period school day can help ease problems caused by declining enrollment in the following areas: teaching load, retention of electives, reduction of pupil-teacher ratio, utilization of facilities, graduation requirements and student interest, length of periods, and availability of time for noninstructional uses. (PGD)

The author, who conducted a study of 18 New England academies, shares some of his findings and some insights on the role of the academy in today's society. (Author)

Describes program organizations and the scope of course offerings in high schools of different enrollment classifications. (Author)

Based on comments from a woman principal's diary, this article views the building of a healthy school culture as essential to achieving school effectiveness and administrative sanity. Success depends on a clear mission, sound communication patterns, a good leadership team, and effective planning and staff development components. (MLH)

Advice on ways to make the transition process from junior high to middle school easier. (Author/MLF)

Large schools have a tall organizational structure with long chains of command and limited control for "low-level" staff, including teachers and principals. To resolve this problem, two alternative structures are suggested: a dual structure involving spheres of administrative and professional responsibility and a flat structure featuring…

Maintains that secondary schools often assign their counselors major responsibility for the gatekeeping and custodial functions associated with student scheduling. Recommends as an alternative having counselors advise students and others needing counseling while paraprofessionals and clerical personnel handle the administrative duties. (Author/PGD)

One alternate approach to school administration centers on the use of two principals, one for administration and one for instruction. This article examines the approach and offers some cautions. (Author/MLF)

The current educational format emphasizes learning for grades, for future reward, or to avoid punishment. To promote learning for its own sake and a better understanding of society, secondary schools need to become dynamic learning and living centers where all students, teachers, and administrators are engaged cooperatively in integrated, active…

An inhouse student scheduling and information system facilitated the successful reorganization of a Massachusetts high school to a four-year program. (MJL)

This summary of a study describing the communications of school administrators and teachers and the degree of congruency between principals' and teachers' instructional intentions and students' and teachers' perceptions of classroom events concludes by proposing Rensis Likert's overlapping work groups as a more effective organizational pattern for…

To examine the effects of advancing ninth graders to some form of high school, a suburban Midwestern school district was studied for ninth graders' perceptions of the senior-high environment, noting also their participation in school activities and the use of controlled substances. (JW)