Examines focus group methodology as a fundamental first step in planning a school and as a data gathering strategy for design of a community survey. The case study of the collaborative effort between two districts and the University of Hartford illustrates the value of focus groups. (SLD)

Develops a sociology of school establishments by examining 20 French colleges from 1981-86 (roughly equivalent to U.S. junior high schools and the end of French compulsory schooling). Examines prospects of meeting French government's goal of 80 percent of students completing secondary education through clarification of school identity, stronger…

Discusses sociological contributions to understanding black and white inequality in education. Outlines political, cultural, and ideological perspectives on black-white inequality that guide empirical research about access to schooling, educational opportunities in schools, and outcomes of schooling. Relates these perspectives to educational…

This executive summary of a report of a Texas task force on the education of students with disabilities has been published in separate English and Spanish versions, both provided here. The report outlines a policy for educating students with disabilities, the foundation for the policy, and recommendations for implementing the policy goals. The…

Emphasizing strong partnerships with family and community, the School-Based Early Childhood Centers Project of the Child, Family, and Community Program (CFCP) identifies, develops, and evaluates early childhood partnerships with six Northwest school sites to provide case studies of the restructuring process. This report presents the results of a…

This monograph presents 23 papers presented at a 1995 Oregon conference which focused on students in trouble due to disabilities or context problems. Paper titles and authors are: "Identifying Students Who Have Learning Disabilities" (Barbara D. Bateman and David J. Chard); "ADHD: A Teachers' Guide" (Rosalyn A. Templeton);…

Educational partnerships, i.e., partnerships between high schools and businesses, are a promising way of working together that is both old and new. The following features characterize collaborative partnerships: shared goals; mutual respect and trust; cooperative effort; shared power; contribution of varying talents, perspectives, and resources…

During the past 4 years, the education reform movement in the United States has made significant progress. At the federal level, the Bush Administration proposed "America 2000," its specific recommendations for systemic reform; and the Clinton Administration introduced "Goals 2000: Educate America Act." This report concentrates…

This paper provides an overview of educational, legal, and philosophical aspects of integration of Massachusetts students with disabilities. It discusses effective practices based on current research, the experience of parents and practitioners, and model programs. Introductory sections consider the importance of the integration concept and offer…

This study sought to determine characteristics of schools and districts that enjoy the public's strong confidence and to explore how these characteristics are created and retained. A screening procedure produced useable data from 181 "high-confidence" public schools, 30 private schools, and 45 school districts. As part of a preliminary…

Three studies examined aspects of child care in New Zealand. In the first study, supervisors of 38 child care centers were interviewed about the organization of their centers. Based on the responses, categories were developed to describe the type of center, the persons responsible for management decisions, organization of care by age grouping, and…

At Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC), institutional assessment activities were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Academic and Instructional Support Services (AISS) division, a non-academic unit which includes the Library for archival/retrieval purposes, the Learning Lab for the testing and learning center, and Instructional…

This statistical report discerns and analyzes financial trends in Catholic secondary schools. The report is based on a randomly selected and stratified (by region and size) sample of 222 responding schools out of an initial sample of 500 schools. Characteristics examined include the grade composition, near-term plans, gender compositions,…

This book examines the qualities of schools that successfully deal with the developmental diversity of young adolescents (10 to 14 years old). In part I, the author reviews literature on school effectiveness and develops a framework for evaluating schools that are not simply "effective," but are "successful." Seven criteria are outlined: (1)…

Examining the effectiveness of an organizational development plan, this study notes the changes in school climate in two Pennsylvania schools--a junior high and a middle school. Having selected the schools for their troubled educational environments, the authors gathered data for 2 years from interviews with students and staff, from a formal…