Administrative leadership is crucial to school improvement efforts, as shown by examples from 16 representative U.S. school districts. The best principals tailor reform to their schools, remain open to discovery, create an appropriate environment, develop comprehensive educational reform plans, promote staff development, relate well to the central…

As in the past, the nation's schools are used as a catchall for problem social issues and as scapegoats for the current U.S. economic predicament. If America is to develop a competitive economy and a strong society, quality education will have to be provided to all our children, including the disadvantaged. Includes 10 references. (MLH)

High school principals assume direct responsibility for selected instructional leadership functions, but must delegate partial or full responsibility for other functions. The Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale helps shift principals' attention to the most appropriate areas. The key component is a systematically developed leadership…

Discusses leadership skills necessary for coping with the great institutional systems holding our society together. Leaders must grasp relationships to the larger realities beyond the system they are heading. Needed skills include agreement-building, networking, exercising nonjurisdictional or "insider" power, and institution-building. (MLH)

Too much classroom work is teacher-initiated, labor-intensive, abstraction-rich, and experience-lean. In contrast, science centers offer students a learner-initiated, discovery-rich opportunity to explore stimulating experiences, especially when second trips are made. Optimal learning occurs with a dynamic blending of abstract and experiential…

Describes a study examining the status of vocational programs for special students (under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act) after two years' implementation in a northwestern state's rural schools. Results showed little concern for special students' vocational education; counseling services were inadequate, and vocational teachers'…

Reviews cooperative learning benefits and advises vocational teachers, principals, supervisors, administrators, and student organization members to cooperate to plan meaningful activities. Describes Future Homemakers of America's planning process; advocates a balance among cooperative, competitive, and individualized working modes; and provides…

Concern over communication between schools and colleges spurred three organizations to sponsor a national conference to examine school/college relationships. (MD)

Briefly outlines the historical dimensions of the influence of colleges on secondary schools. Presents seven lessons learned from the transcript study. Asserts that current educational reform must involve both secondary and postsecondary levels in tandem. (MD)

Raising academic requirements for admission to higher education brings about higher academic standards in secondary schools. Describes the relationship between a California high school curriculum and student course selections on one hand and university admission requirements on the other. (MD)

Describes academic programs and graduation requirements at a Massachusetts high school and the changing emphasis over the past decades. Points out college admission requirements are one of many factors affecting student course selection. (MD)

Describes school/college cooperative programs operating across the country. Six programs coordinate services and resources; three are research consortia in predominantly rural schools. Lists six features of successful programs. (MD)

During the past three decades minorities have benefited from educational reforms. Current concerns with educational excellence conflict with equality of educational opportunity. The author believes there need not be incompatibility in the pursuit of excellence as it relates to quality or equality. (MD)

Critiques college admission requirements, pointing out that entrance tests determine what is taught in high school curriculum. For testing to be effective, colleges and high schools must specify the content of college preparatory curriculum. (MD)

Critiques educational reform movement. Believes that unless the human dimension is improved, all reform proposals will fail. If American public education is to be saved, a better job of teaching the link between public education and a free society is needed. (MD)