A 3-year research project commissioned in 1988 investigated Scottish probationer teachers' views of five aspects of their experience: initial training, recruitment and selection, induction, support, and assessment. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the views of 250 probationer teachers, their headteachers, other school staff,…

One of the seven correlates of an effective school, as identified by the Effective Schools Research, is a positive school climate: a positive attitude on the part of the entire staff and student body exhibited through overt behavior that creates a warm, orderly learning environment. Development of such an environment depends upon: (1) strong…

Beginning with a review of signs and signals of public attitudes toward American education over the last 15 years, this paper analyzes some concerns regarding public confidence in public schools. Following a brief introduction, issues involved in the definition and behavioral attributes of confidence are mentioned. A synopsis of three approaches…

Six papers, which comprise Part II of "Studies in Curriculum Decision Making," explore: (1) actions taken by those in nonteaching roles to facilitate teacher effectiveness; (2) how helpful these actions are likely to be; and (3) what individuals in nonteaching roles can do to assist teacher effectiveness. Interviews and questionnaires…

As part of a comprehensive community impact/needs assessment, Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) conducted surveys of faculty, classified staff, and administrators. Questionnaires solicited information on respondent characteristics, PHCC's mission and goals, the purpose of postsecondary education, the adequacy of PHCC's services and programs,…

The reliability, factor structure, and discriminatory power of faculty perceptions of the performance of departmental administrators were investigated, using the Administrator Evaluation Survey (AES) developed at the University of Illinois. Faculty from a major research university in the midwest, a smaller state university in the midwest, and a…

A study assessed and compared perceptions of local vocational educators toward delivery and evaluation of vocational education programs for the disadvantaged and handicapped. Emphasis was on identifying factors affecting vocational education for the special needs population and areas of concern relative to these factors. A survey instrument was…

A review of the literature on school climate provides a conceptual framework for this study in which the Kettering School Climate Profile was administered twice to students, teachers, parents, and administrators in the Stoughton Middle School (Stoughton, Wisconsin). The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between organizational…

To provide educators with a compilation of available data on the implementation and operation of year-round programs, this publication incorporates reviews of evaluative studies conducted by six year-round programs: the Prince William County, Virginia, 45-15 Plan; the Valley View, Illinois, School District, 45-15 Plan; the Dade County, Florida,…

Describes the preoccupation of U.S. schools with "list logic": a conception of educational improvement that relies on the identification and prescription of a myriad of characteristics of effective schools, administrators, and teachers. Suggests reasons for this phenomenon and advocates the alternative of "communities of…

This study evaluated the implementation of inclusion concepts and the attitudes of secondary teachers toward inclusion in one Midwest school district. Nineteen general and special education teachers were surveyed with a specially developed questionnaire. Follow-up interviews and class observations were also conducted. Data analysis indicated that…

This report summarizes evaluation results of some of Austin Independent School District's (AISD's) efforts to involve parents and community members during 2002-2003.

In 1985, the Department of Education in Alberta (Canada) adopted policy that allows remote or rural high schools to use distance education as a method for increasing curriculum offerings and avoiding the need for school consolidation. In 1987, the Alberta Department of Education implemented the Distance Learning in Small Schools Project to address…

Based on visits to 11 schools in 6 urban areas across the country, this article describes the perspectives and behavioral responses of school staff to "reaching out" policies that lead schools to form partnerships with parents and community organizations for the purpose of enhancing children's development and academic achievement. All of…

The final phase of a three-phase study of bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in 144 Texas school districts is reported. The study was conducted from 1985-86 to 1988-89 through site visits and interviews with administrators and teachers. Descriptive data for six schools, selected for the effectiveness of their…