Employing a mixed-method explorative approach, this study examined the in situ use of and opinions about an educational computer game for learning English introduced in three schools offering different levels of freedom to choose school activities. The results indicated that the general behaviour of the children with the game was very different…

"Institutional context" has come to play an important role in the explanation of differences in "effectiveness" between schools. But what is meant by such a concept differs from system to system. In this study we typify education systems based on indicators of institutional contexts such as: the financial base of public-private…

Student resiliency refers to the ability to succeed in school regardless of unpleasant circumstances, such as poverty or abuse, and can be measured by the degree of presence of the following components: a sense of well-being, motivation, ability to set goals, development of strong relationships or connections, and stress management (Close &…

Hardly a week passes without yet another highly visible court case involving the rights and freedoms of secondary school students. The subject matter of these lawsuits is as varied as the activities of the students who have gone to court to vindicate their legal interests. The outcome of such cases also runs the gamut; some student plaintiffs (and…

Over the past few decades, many state departments of education have taken over low-performing schools or districts as a school turnaround strategy. Recently, that strategy has shifted to creating new districts--managed by the state--that include schools and parts of districts that face challenges in performance. The governance structure brings…

Stimulated by severe teacher shortages, teacher education in the Netherlands is changing toward competence-based, work- based-, and market-oriented programs. A Dutch scenario project was developed in which four scenarios for the future of teacher education emerged. These scenarios were structured by the freedom of schools to define the type of…

It has been slightly more than a decade since the 1988 Supreme Court "Hazelwood" decision which reaffirmed the right of high school principals to censor stories in the student newspaper. That ruling caused advisers, principals, and students to reevaluate the operation of those publications. This study investigates press freedom in high…

The Education Reform Act of 1988 introduced both a National Curriculum and a regime of inspection designed to ensure that schools were adequately meeting the demands of this curriculum. At the same time schools were being given greater autonomy through the increased powers of the governing body and open enrolment. Rather than add to the freedoms…

This article reviews evidence from four international student achievement tests on the effects on student performance of competition from privately managed schools, schools' freedom to make autonomous decisions, and accountability introduced by external exit exams. The multivariate cross-country regressions are performed at the level of individual…

Tells about schools rewarded for upholding First Amendment protections. Discusses the Let Freedom Ring Award. Considers how even the prestige and honor associated with winning national awards for freedom in the schools does not guarantee success in the ongoing fight to practice what the United States Constitution guarantees and educational logic…

Investigates press freedom in high school newspapers at the end of the century. Concludes that the findings paint a clear picture of a high school student press that is not free, that is controlled mostly by advisers, but also by principals, and that views editing of the paper by the faculty adviser as the norm. (SG)

When school bells ring to mark the start of the 2005-2006 academic year, the District of Columbia's Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School will welcome more than 200 elementary students, as well as a new teacher: First Daughter Jenna Bush. Statements released by the White House announced Jenna's decision to put her college…

This companion volume to the first "Rethinking Our Classrooms" presents a collection of articles, curriculum ideas, lesson plans, poetry, and resources designed for educators seeking to pair concerns for social justice with student academic achievement. Topics are: (1) "The Power of Words," including "Where I'm From:…

The Swedish school system is a highly comprehensive one, with "grundskola" (compulsory school) for 7- to 16-year-olds and the non-compulsory "gymnasieskola" (three-year upper secondary school) as the main types of school. Since the decentralization reforms of the 1990s, municipalities (290 in total) have been given considerable…

The main federal support for school modernization comes via the Qualified Zone Academy Board (QZAB) program, which helps districts raise funds and offers low-income schools freedom from bond and loan interest. The Better Classroom Act of 2003 proposes to extend the QZAB program by promoting new school construction. Two other bills currently before…