Reviews effective schools research and asserts that achieving effectiveness by focusing narrowly on testing and curriculum objectives can have detrimental effects. Provides a listing of characteristics of schools that achieved grade-level success with low income students for several years. Intended as a practical guide for other schools wishing to…

Discusses trends in the descriptive literature about children and the poor. Presents anecdotal material of children's spontaneous street play and analyzes cognitive skills exhibited in these situations. (Author/GC)

Nine locally initiated projects designed to improve the connections for problem solving between urban schools and the community were examined. Results showed that the desired school/community connections were difficult to achieve and seemed fragile and vulnerable. A new approach to school reform in urban schools is suggested. (AOS)

Discusses the background and implications of a court decision resulting in the resegregation of public schools in metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee, because of declining enrollment. Speculates whether the events indicate a trend back to the concept of neighborhood schools and an end to busing to achieve desegregation. (AOS)

In the Australian state of Victoria, control of academic curriculum has shifted from the bureaucrats to locally based teacher networks and statewide associations which limit subject scope and teaching styles. However, curriculum has not changed significantly, indicating that institutional reforms do not necessarily result in radical alterations of…

Discusses various symptoms of burnout and argues that its main cause among teachers is the organizational pattern of public schools. Identifies teachers' noninvolvement in decision making, performance guidelines, routinization, and the division of labor as stress inducing administrative features that should be changed in order to reduce burnout.…

A study of Black high school graduates found that school desegregation influences expectations of individuals entering the highest level occupational categories; however, when other occupational socialization factors are considered, the relative effect of desegregation on expectations of entering a nontraditionally Black occupation is significant…

In New Jersey vs. T.L.O. (1985) the Supreme Court clarified and limited the student's Fourth Amendment rights against "unreasonable searches and seizures." When school officials act alone and on their own authority, they need not obtain a warrant but may conduct a search based on the lesser standard of "reasonableness." (LHW)

Describes the development of Proposition One, which threatened to drastically cut education and social services in Florida by reducing the State and local governments' purchasing power to below 1980 levels. Assesses the potential for resurgence of the legislation, following its removal from the ballot by the State Supreme Court. (GC)

Explores effectiveness of interorganizational networks for impacting on public policy at local level. Examines efforts of community organizations in Columbus, Ohio, to increase citizen participation in school desegregation. Urges that resource sharing become the norm in community action. (RDN)

Given the gap between the low average income of Hispanic families and the high cost of postsecondary education, financial aid must be offered to potential Hispanic college students. Moreover, schools must actively provide Hispanic parents with financial aid program information. (KH)

Discusses trend toward minimum competency tests (MCTs) as a requirement for receiving high school graduation. Summarizes criticisms of such testing, and discusses Florida's experience with the MCT, especially in relation to minorities. Concludes that the use of MCTs is potentially discriminatory. (CJM)

In 1978, Florida was sued by 11 Black students on the grounds that its functional literacy requirement violated due process. This article summarizes the arguments in the case. The initial decision to retain the test after a four-year delay was appealed, but was subsequently upheld by the State's Appeals Court. (CJM)

This study attempted to identify elements accounting for reading proficiency among poor Black children. The expectation that teacher's style was important was not supported. Important elements seemed to be early reading, family encouragement, teachers' positive expectations, and placement with other good students. (CJM)

The adoption of the business efficiency model by school administrators during the early decades of this century and its ramifications for teachers' work has been well chronicled. In this article, teachers themselves recall their responses to "efficiency" in Pittsburgh schools. (LHW)