The primary mechanism for assessment and program planning associated with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act is the multidisciplinary team--a group including at least one teacher or specialist in the suspected disability area. This article describes three bases of the multidisciplinary assessment process. Includes 14 references. (MLH)

Given the difficulty of substitute teaching, it is surprising that few districts require professional training or previous teaching experience. According to one survey, substitutes should be flexible, have teaching experience and subject area knowledge, and be able to manage classroom adversity. Substitutes' role needs more appreciation. Includes…

By working with the media, educators can turn adverse situations to their advantage and create better school-media-community relations. Nine basic rules of thumb are presented for dealing with the media, and advice is provided for keeping the media informed and for crisis management. (Author/TE)

A solid school public relations plan benefits the school, students, and community. The plan need not be elaborate. A four-step process of research, planning, communication, and evaluation is described here. (Author)

A crisis can happen at any school--even good schools in good neighborhoods with award-winning staff members. Whether it's due to Mother Nature or to human nature, a crisis hits and the media arrive within minutes to record it. Advice is provided in a case-study format on what to do when a crisis arises. (Author/TE)

In the push for excellence in education, administrators may forget that dissatisfied teachers may weaken the educational program. Basic public relations principles and techniques can help administrators meet teachers' needs. (Author/TE)

Parents' involvement in their children's education is imperative to the students' success. This article outlines a variety of ways in which school administrators can enhance the role of parents: good home-school communication, parents as teachers, parents as supporters of activities, parents as learners, and parents as advocates. (Author/TE)

In dealing with special interest groups, principals should evaluate their own prejudices, develop active listening skills, establish a key communicator system, and involve special interest group leaders in planning new programs. (TE)

The belief that attitude is the essence of learning is central to the philosophy in Duval County (Florida) schools. Principals are chosen based on enthusiasm and positive communications with staff members and community, and as staff and community pride in the schools has increased, so has academic performance. (TE)

This article takes issue with recent proposals to eliminate teaching experience as a requirement for principal certification. A principal relies on teaching experience in five areas: (1) employing teachers; (2) supervising instruction; (3) leading and managing teachers; (4) understanding and working with students; and (5) conferring with parents.…

Reviewing the enlivening themes that run through our history as a people, one is struck with the depth and continuity of our commitment to the fulfillment of human possibilities. The leaders we have valued the most have reflected that commitment. Our educational system is preeminently the instrument through which we express our expectations.…

Teachers who feel good about themselves and their abilities are the ones most likely to experience success. A personal approach is suggested for principals to use in building teachers' self-esteem through recurring compliments, imagery, social reinforcers, and trust. (TE)

The authors of the book "Reducing the Risk: Schools as Communities of Support" are interviewed. The book proposes a research-based theory of dropout prevention that stresses the importance of school membership and networks of support. (TE)

Job Training and Partnership Act programs can provide schools with a variety of options and resources for building Education for Employment programs to meet the needs of at-risk students. These programs focus on basic academic skills, work maturity skills, and job-specific skills. (Author/TE)

This article describes the Valley Education Consortium, a long-term, ongoing school-university partnership to achieve concurrent improvements in secondary school curriculum and assessment. The partnership consists of 10 school districts in western Oregon, three county education service districts, the Oregon State University-Western Oregon State…