In the 1960s, social and political changes in the United States initiated countercultural practices that, in turn, gave underrepresented people greater opportunities in business, nonprofit, and government sectors--including public and private education. As a result, the nation has seen an increase in the number of women and people of color in…

Helping all students find academic success is a central tenet of independent schools. But at many independent schools, mounting anecdotal evidence indicates that a persistent achievement gap exists between white and Asian-American students and their Latino and African-American counterparts. In 2007, Rebecca Upham, head of school at Buckingham…

Nationwide, the Great Recession arrived as independent schools entered various stages of strategic planning, building projects, fund-raising drives, enrollment efforts, and programmatic reforms--and all schools needed to consider how best to proceed. In order to understand the actual effects of the economic downturn, the authors undertook a…

As the authors joined the growing number of prominent adolescent psychologists and educators in arguing that "organizing four years of high school around grades and college admissions is a virtual guarantee that a teenager's natural commitment and enthusiasm are likely to be undermined," they wondered if the enduring habits they value most for…

Examining seven major trends in current efforts to reform secondary education, the author outlines recommendations being issued in 1984 in three publications of the project known as A Study of High Schools and offers a set of eight suggestions for school heads to act on in the immediate future. (JBM)

Reviews 6 topics of current reesearch on teacher effectiveness (school effectiveness, teacher shortage, teacher stress, classroom organization, professional growth, and job satisfaction) and suggests 13 activities for meeting faculty members' needs (including the establishment of faculty improvement and cultural funds, housing allowances, merit…

Three studies indicate that because Black students can enter college with substantially lower Scholastic Aptitude Test scores than their White peers yet still expect to achieve on a par with the majority population, other factors should be considered when predicting the academic success of Black students. (SB)

Traditionally informal, teacher evaluation in the private school sector is changing. Although faculty and administrators view the situation from different perspectives, there is agreement that more formal methods are more satisfactory. Boarding schools differ significantly from day schools in their approach to teacher evaluation. (SB)

Reports findings and progress of efforts to educate American students in international languages and cultural studies. Recommends: (1) special programs for teachers; (2) state and federal funding and support for international studies and programs; (3) use of special schools for national models; and (4) required courses in international education…

Identifies via questionnaire data major health risks and problems. Emphasizes the responsibilities of schools in helping students develop effective health attitudes and habits. Recommends strategies for improving health education programs. (JD)