Policymakers need to formulate policies that are responsive to the reforms called for in recent reports but must decide for their own school districts what changes would be sensible and what procedures will best bring them about. (MLF)

Summarizes the research on school effectiveness and identifies state policy implications followed by a discussion of current state education policies and their relationship to school effectiveness research. (MLF)

States should take an active and direct role in education reform: supporting school reform efforts, providing technical assistance, defining and controlling educational content, and assessing the outcomes of education. (MLF)

Districts can encourage school improvement through policy statements that promote local autonomy and ownership. (MLF)

The research on effective schools provides an opportunity for federally supported school improvement. A new challenge to policymakers will be presented by the satellite delivery of a totally engineered learning environment to subscribing homes. (MLF)

Despite the budget cuts and some consolidation of programs by the Reagan administration, basic programs are still intact. Congress has been, and remains, in charge of educational policy. (MLF)

The chairman of the Committee on Labs and Centers, National Council on Educational Research, policymaking body for the National Institute of Education (NIE), states that education issues cannot be separated from questions of philosophy. Shared values represent an appropriate and useful utilization of taxpayer money at NIE. (MLF)

The decision by a Reagan administration appointee to terminate funding of 13 validated projects illustrates the influence of politics on policy. (Author)

By building credibility and using their expertise, educators can influence education policy at the state and federal levels. Appended is a list of federal telephone numbers to call for information and to reach legislators. (MLF)

Students will learn more if local school boards set priorities, use test scores sensibly, and hold educators accountable. (Author)

Presents eight definitions of "policy" that are implied in the literature and, by applying these definitions in three policy arenas, notes their differential effects in terms of policy questions, data collected, data sources, methodology, and policy products. (MLF)

The steps of policy analysis are similar to those of any research project; however, they focus on problems, issues, and needs. Using the introduction of microcomputers in a school district as an example, these steps are explained. (MLF)

Brief examples of the use of rules defining expectations in two high schools demonstrate the effectiveness of this method and that it is a useful and practical strategy for administrators. (MLF)

A meta-analysis of 26 studies shows that accelerated gifted students outperform students of the same age and ability who are not accelerated and achieve as well as equally gifted older students in the higher grades. Correlational studies suggest that accelerates are equally successful later in life. (MLF)

Citizenship education remains the central focus of the social studies curriculum. A number of organizations are taking steps to promote social studies in elementary and secondary education and to increase its global content. (MLF)