Urges renewal and revitalization to sustain middle school reform. Discusses the nature of middle school reform as an ongoing process of refining middle school concepts, practices, or programs to make them better for students. Highlights articles in this issue. (JPB)

Discusses the importance of joining the middle school concept to organizational health and briefly introduces this journal issue's articles on the subject. (EV)

Responds to M. S. Tucker and J. B. Codding's criticism of the middle school concept in their 1999 article "Education and the Demands of Democracy in the Next Millennium." Notes that the authors apparently approve of middle school reform but over-generalize the term "middle school" to mean a building rather than a curriculum or…

Discusses the role of the middle school concept for creating small communities for learning that ensure success for all students as a key step in reducing alienation, despair, and violence among adolescents. (JPB)

Discusses three factors contributing to the criticism of middle school education: the demographic success of middle schools; the growing public attitude that education is a private privilege; and the way middle school educators confuse organizational elements with intended student outcomes. (JPB)

Discusses the value of middle school reform involving interdisciplinary teaming, advisory programs, and developmentally appropriate practices, noting that true middle schools improve academic achievement and standardized test scores. Argues against a pendulum swing away from middle school reform and toward standards-based curriculum. (JPB)

Examines the meaning and application of the principle: "Middle schools exist to meet the needs of young adolescents." Maintains that needs of adolescents depend on more than their common age range. Suggests that hierarchical educational organizations are not designed to meet individual needs and that applying principles of quality management can…

Discusses this journal issue's special section on education of teachers for middle school teaching. Asserts that despite criticism or apathy, attention must be given to creating a better pool of middle grades teaching talent. Introduces the issue's articles, which deal with successful attempts to bring together the faculties of restructured middle…

Effective youth services are those operated by individuals who care about those they serve, and middle schools are no exception. Developing caring climates, promoting positive self-esteem, and fostering cognitive growth are factors of concern for middle school educators, but academic development remains the primary focus. In providing challenging…

Discusses criticism of the middle school reform movement and points out efforts to rekindle reform. (JPB)

Discusses the role of middle school curriculum reform, including disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and integrated perspectives, that will improve students' social, intellectual, and personal development. (JPB)

Maintains that excellence in middle school education requires planning for success and continuing attention. Suggests that sustaining changes after the initial surge for change proves more challenging than the initial changes. Highlights strategies detailed in articles in this issue for keeping middle level school reform on track, noting that…

Discusses findings of a reader survey and ways the National Middle School Association is acting on reader feedback to support the work and development of middle level professionals. (JPB)

Discusses ways to make middle school classrooms student-friendly by motivating students to take control of their education, understand themselves, and assess their own progress. Notes the teacher's role in this student-centered classroom. (JPB)

Discusses the affordability of implementing interdisciplinary teaching teams and block schedules in middle schools. Argues that the benefits of these school schedules and models make them worth the investment of time and money it takes to implement them. (JPB)