As part of a long-term inquiry into the nature of staff development, 300 interviews focused on teachers' use of formal development opportunities, informal interactions with other professionals, and personally directed growth activities. The relationships between teachers' growth levels and the social systems of schools are discussed. (Author/MLF)

A collaborative relationship among teachers, parents, students, and citizens can educate students more successfully than the present antilearning educational bureaucracy. (Author/MLF)

Summarizes recent studies of programs and practices that involve parents in their children's schooling. Concludes that interest in parent participation is strong even beyond the early grades. (MLF)

A simple but comprehensive framework views parents' involvement in their children's education along a continuum of passive to active activities. A number of involvement strategies are presented in a visual summary of the model. (MLF)

The principles of a sound education can be incorporated in a middle school or a junior high school. It is important that commitment be made to programs rather than to the psychological ploy of a name. (Author/MLF)

Effective middle-level schools provide students with a supportive structure in the form of relationships between teachers and students. Research has confirmed the effectiveness of team organization, advisory groups, multi-age grouping, and exploratory curricula. (Author/MLF)

Middle schools in St. Louis (Missouri) were implemented in 1980. Evaluation measures indicate better student attendance and higher scores on achievement tests, fewer discipline referrals, and fewer student suspensions. (MLF)

Balancing theory, administration, and practice, Newport News (Virginia) public schools achieved a smooth transition to middle school organization. (Author)

A program in Columbus (Ohio) assists teachers to develop instructional activities that will foster students' overall problem-solving skills. A sample of the books used in the program is listed. (MLF)

Highlights from previous studies and results from surveys of teacher placement offices, secondary school administrators, and teachers all show a severe shortage of qualified secondary school science and mathematics teachers. (Author/MLF)

A survey of 57 Minnesota school districts about participants in district curriculum decisionmaking reveals a heavy involvement by principals in both curriculum coordination and development. Teachers are less involved in coordination than in the development process. Community members are almost totally excluded, and students are excluded.…

Seymour Papert, the inventor of the computer language LOGO, claims even small children can learn to program computers. Children must think through what they want the computer to do and thereby develop a deeper understanding of the material. (Author/MLF)

Describes school improvement programs established by universities, state agencies, and school districts. All are based on effective schools' research. (Author/JM)

Researcher-reformer Ronald Edmonds believes he knows why some urban schools teach poor children successfully. In this interview Edmonds elaborates on his list of the five characteristics of effective schools. (Author/JM)

Implementing recommendations derived from research and literature on school effectiveness, 20 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) schools have set and enforced standards that reflect their belief in their students' ability to achieve. (Author/JM)