Increasingly, educational reform is linked to the concept of professional learning communities (PLCs). Definitions of PLCs vary, but generally the concept refers to a group of educators who "continuously seek and share learning, and act on their learning" (Hord 1997, 6). Stoll and her colleagues, concluding their review of the current state of…

The development of a core curriculum for secondary horticulture that New Hampshire teachers would actually use required grass-roots teacher input, independent and team writing, and feedback from employers and postsecondary instructors who would ultimately be affected by the new curriculum. (SK)

Describes a writing project for which students corresponded with students at other schools about their responses to literature. Focuses on how the teachers became their own researchers and learned through collaboration with other teachers. (SRT)

Presents activities that combine the arts with reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science, and foreign language instruction. (FL)

Laments the lack of change in suggested titles for high school readers. Suggests that librarians could help teachers find newer material and recommends some outstanding literature for adolescents. (JL)

Describes how a community college, 11 high schools, a university, and manufacturers collaborate to create a high-powered industrial design and manufacturing program. (Author)

This handbook provides information about the Idaho Basic Skills Project as well as processes to help identify participants who will create a successful Basic Skills Team for the school. The handbook begins with a series of questions that are intended (1) to help administrators understand the project better and (2) to help them decide on the need…

The relationship between high schools and colleges during the 20th century has been at best a weak one. College professors and high school teachers belong to separate professional organizations, and rarely do conferences involve both types of educators together. Thus, a communication gap exists that has at its base a problem that students are…

Examines issues related to organizing the teaching of reading in secondary schools, such as the lack of liaison between elementary and secondary schools and the confinement of reading instruction to only English or remedial classes. Suggests that secondary school faculty cooperate in using all available resources to produce literate adults. (AEA)

Reared in a hierarchical environment, teachers in Germany have had difficulty working with team structures despite the benefit of increased professional autonomy. The Holweide Gesamitschule in Cologne, a large comprehensive high school begun in 1975, developed a plan to diminish big-school anonymity and emphasize cooperation among children of…

Common mistakes of tech prep consortia are (1) sacrificing effectiveness for efficiency; (2) poor labor market analysis; (3) superficial curriculum reorganization; and (4) no mechanism for continuity and poor communication. (SK)

A survey of 400 secondary agriculture teachers (241 responses) showed that those with science credentials were more likely to teach both agriculture courses receiving science credit and nonagriculture science courses. Science credentials and credits were more likely to benefit agricultural than science programs. Ag teachers with science…

Discusses the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which science department heads (HoDs) encourage optimal work from a traditional mix of teachers. (Author/WRM)

A study included interviews with 161 secondary agriculture teachers and 100 students, a survey (n=406), and focus groups. One-quarter of the teachers incorporated aquaculture; most who integrated curricula worked with science teachers. Students believed aquaculture enhanced their math and science performance and increased relevance. (SK)

"Planning Your Partnership," a statewide teleconference presented by the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), is described and evaluated in this report. Teleconference objectives included the solicitation of high-quality proposals for CAPP grants, increased information dissemination, and expanded experience with teleconference…