An administrator of an Indiana alternative high school constantly battles negative public attitudes toward alternative schools. Schools or programs seeking to serve the variety of youths and families in today's society should not be separated out as "alternatives." Ensuring that all individuals have opportunities to succeed is a necessity, not an…

Creating a CD-ROM to enrich the 11th-grade social-studies curriculum was challenging, but rewarding. Draft storyboards and stock World War II footage soon led to a digital production called "Presumed Enemies," which put the events surrounding the internment of Japanese Canadians and Japanese Americans into historical context. (MLH)

Over an 11-year period, Community School District in New York City amassed a strong record of successful school improvement in a diverse urban setting. Nesting learning communities and cognitive apprenticeships are keys to success. Principals are responsible for establishing a pervasive culture of learning and teaching in each school. (MLH)

In Spring 2000, Nebraska passed legislation supporting a school-based and teacher-led initiative. The plan provides districts flexibility in the testing tools they use, but still requires districts to develop standards, report annually on student progress, and participate in an annual statewide writing assessment. (Contains 13 references.) (MLH)

The technology revolution may accomplish what 10 years of education reform could not. Traditional preparation programs no longer allow teachers to maintain "sage" status since they cannot know as much as the Internet can make available to students. Teachers in cyberspace know computers are about relationships and independent learning. (MLH)

The Quest Foundation, in partnership with the National Education Association, has completed a 5-year, $12 million Teacher Network Initiative that has successfully broadened technology's use in 14 states. More than 15,000 teachers received advanced training via 4,200 laptops, and excellent curricula were developed and integrated in classrooms. (MLH)

Shifting priorities and modernist notions of self-expression had pushed art to the fringes of the curriculum. New influences, including national goals and standards, discipline-based art education, postmodernism, constructivist teaching, and new technologies, are bringing art education back to the heart of the curriculum. (Contains 16 references.)…

An educational equity expert and outspoken critic of remedial education, Levin says the Accelerated Schools Project he founded serves predominantly disadvantaged neighborhoods and is based on three principles: Successful schools have a unity of purpose; empowerment comes with responsibility; and gifted/talented instructional approaches work best.…

Operating under the umbrella of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, the Beyond Tolerance Educational Center serves as a resource for educators. It provides county schools with information and programs that promote social awareness and tolerance while teaching kids the dangers of hatred and discrimination. (MLH)

Presents results of informal research on smart homes and appliances, structured home wiring, whole-house audio/video distribution, hybrid cable, and wireless networks. Computer network wiring is tricky to install unless all-in-one jacketed cable is used. Wireless phones help installers avoid pre-wiring problems in homes and schools. (MLH)

In the workplace, the test score/earnings relationship is insignificant. Job success does not involve taking tests, but pleasing employers, working well with colleagues, and being courteous, savvy, reliable, motivated, and perseverant. Test-score disparities severely affect minorities' college-admission and employment opportunities. (MLH)

Compared to students from affluent public and prep schools, few inner-city students receive extra time or other accommodations when taking high-stakes tests. The growth in "false positives" among affluent youth may partly stem from nonspecific definitions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Fairness is being undermined. (MLH)

High-stakes tests seriously threaten excellence and national standards. Unchecked, they will stifle many excellent schools and drive gifted teachers from classrooms. Bad tests, used to make high-stakes decisions, will lead to unnecessarily low standards, undesirable educational practices, shortchanged students, and underprepared citizens.…

Some advocates of "all children can learn" downplay the need for adequate resources and child-friendly public policy. Educators' heroic efforts alone are insufficient. Other destructive fallacies include the principal as sole instructional leader and exception-based, uniform standards. The effective-schools movement has become too…

A principal intern enrolled at UNC-Charlotte describes "life in the trenches" at a small-town middle school. Schools should integrate interns into school operations, develop a program vision, gradually increase the intern's responsibilities, provide time for continuous evaluation, and rely on university supervisors when problems arise. (MLH)