In a standards-based instructional program, what does a course grade convey? What should it convey? What is the role of homework in assigning grades? What is the role of common assessments? This case study examined the responses of two groups of high school teachers during a district wide reform of grading practices. The first was a focus group of…

Given the demands and constraints under which they work, it is critical for principals to determine their own readiness for change before undertaking the complex process of changing schools. Leaders can discover their change readiness by becoming reflective practitioners who know themselves and engage in professional learning. This informed…

Improving the quality of secondary education in public schools requires involving all stakeholders in identifying and applying appropriate expectations. Many adult stakeholders are seeking action to eliminate the disparity between state and federal estimates of student achievement and to enable comparisons between the performance of students and…

As the national spotlight continues to focus on adolescent literacy, school districts wrestle with the needs of the students, teachers, and schools along with the demands of national and state standards and assessments. This article shares how one school district successfully navigated the needs of all stakeholders to develop a plan of action, a…

In order to cultivate a culture that challenges the status quo and expects excellence, school leaders need to learn, develop, and demonstrate high levels of emotional intelligence. Studying emotional intelligence provides leaders with the awareness necessary to meet the needs of a staff that is engaged in developing a common vision for their…

Over recent decades, education has had to respond to major mandates and policy changes at the local and national levels. These parameters have often left schools adrift among the tumultuous waves of change and reform. Using the perfect storm as an analogy, this article examines how secondary principals can mediate organizational change by serving…

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics, core beliefs, and activities of successful middle grades programs. Schools in Florida are held to standards of accountability under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the Florida System of School Improvement and Accountability, and the Florida Secondary Schools Redesign Act.…

This study investigated educators' views of collaboration with scientists, a baseline for COSEE Great Lakes efforts in facilitating dynamic collaborative relationships between Great Lakes researchers and educators. Three research questions guided the study: (1) how are educators in the Great Lakes region involved in collaboration with scientists,…

From time to time critics of the middle level publish works that suggest that our philosophy is too much "feeling good" and not enough academic substance. Confusing this debate is the current trend of districts (especially large urban ones) to reconfigure their schools to K-8 neighborhood schools. In this article the author takes a long look at…

This article argues for a social and cultural perspective on mathematics education that sees mathematical knowledge as a "new" civil right and cites The Algebra Project as an example of culturally-responsive instruction. Recommendations are made for reforming teacher education, by including a course for all prospective middle and high school…

This article describes what is known about ways in which middle and secondary school educators have improved curricula, instruction, and assessment practices and reorganized to achieve increased collaboration and responsiveness for all students' needs. It describes seven prominently used instructional strategies and four reorganization strategies…

Describes implementation and evaluation of high school peer-coaching program that provides for two or three teachers to help one another improve their teaching techniques. Majority of 17 teachers in study report reduced sense of isolation and improved teaching skills. (Contains 17 references.) (PKP)

A study analyzed 51 World Wide Web K-12 instructional resources using STS (Science, Technology, and Society) competencies developed from 1996 National Science Education standards. Only 12 percent of the sites have included 25 percent or more of the STS competencies, making the web's educational benefits questionable. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

A doctor of arts (D.A.) degree in secondary education is a timely, valid instrument to reform teacher preparation. This paper reviews the D.A. degree's history, describes its theoretical underpinnings, and explores its relevance to advanced teacher preparation and teacher scholarship. Implementation advice is provided. (Contains 11 references.)…