This book addresses the importance of student involvement in improving the quality of schools. It demonstrates how bringing together students of all achievement levels using empowering activities helps everyone. Chapter 1 demonstrates how student involvement can be used to alter the culture of a school and includes examples of specific projects to achieve this. Chapter 2 focuses on the importance of committing to a common vision of excellence. Chapter 3 recognizes that how students feel about themselves and their school is directly related to how they participate. Chapter 4 discusses strategies that have been used to increase student involvement and empowerment. The concept of the team is furthered in chapter 5, which focuses on the development of specific plans for achieving desired outcomes. Problem solving, decision making, and action planning techniques and strategies are provided as examples. The last two chapters discuss strategies and techniques for measuring progress toward goals and explore what the future holds for schools. (RJM)