Although there has been a great deal of debate about the effectiveness of charter schools in the research literature, there has been surprisingly little attention paid to English language learners (ELLs) in charter schools. Moreover, the charter school research has predominantly focused on whether or not charter schools are effective rather than…

This paper charts a proposed 15-point plan to move from the present California public school system, devised over 50 years ago, to a system flexible enough to go into the next century. The plan is proposed by Charles S. Terrell, Jr., Ed.D., San Bernardino County superintendent of schools. The 15 points address changes in these areas: (1) class…

The implications for teachers in California of the bilingual education movement are discussed. Cooperative efforts involving school districts, professional organizations, and universities are advocated to continue the expansion of bilingual education for limited English speaking students. (FG)

This paper describes how the passage of California's Proposition 187 (which bars public social services to illegal immigrants) affects K-12, college, and university speech educators. The paper also describes how the Speech Communication Association (SCA) can use proactive rather than reactive methods of interacting with their Asian Pacific…

This paper explains how educational technology and multimedia materials can enhance teaching and learning for today's diverse students. The United States still carries the Puritan influence in education (attempting to build a single culture), with little recognition of the need to address diversity in California's K-12 classrooms. Recently,…

There is a need for more precise descriptions of the claims to truth of standardized tests, of their interpretive authority, and of the limits of understanding which are reached through their processes. Typically minority students who score poorly on such tests do because their schools fail to connect with them. Pedagogy, therefore, must somehow…

A differentiated curriculum can provide the basis for discovering, serving, and nurturing academic talent across California's diverse student population. Differentiation provides tools to vary the curriculum or instruction so that students who have already mastered given material continue to progress and students who have a particular interest in…

The CADRE Project is a collaborative teacher induction effort between higher education and K-12 practitioners. It was designed to make a difference in the induction experience of beginning teachers. The evaluation of the CADRE project was designed to assess whether the needs of the beginning CADRE teachers were being met. In order to assess…

This keynote address presents three key elements to arts education and educational reform. These are: partnerships, compassion, and imagination. There is a symbiotic relationship, or partnership, between schools and businesses, political offices, cultural institutions, and other community organizations. These partners, having a stake in public…

Because current fiscal constraints call for inexpensive approaches to achieving equity, school finance research should, in addition to engaging in traditional analysis, address the relationship of curriculum and instruction to equity and economic efficiency. Problems of equity are posed by curriculum decisions and classroom management techniques…

The California Legislature asked the State Department of Education to identify good school programs in the areas of self-concept, interpersonal skills, and parenting. This report describes various ways schools have improved programs and extracts factors or elements common to all the improvement efforts. Reports of visits to 12 exemplary programs…

The challenge of equal educational opportunity in California and lessons from student affirmative action efforts are considered in a California Postsecondary Education Commission task force report, which also offers recommendations to promote high school and college preparation and educational opportunities for low income and minority students.…

This paper addresses problems in California's public education. The government has responded with various top-down programs. California and other states have crafted state academic-content standard and accountability programs. California has approved core academic-content standards that are rigorous and emphasize real knowledge and skills.…

Applauds the adoption of National Standards in Civics and Government as necessary and overdue. Briefly describes the consensus-building process that produced the standards. Contains a list of the five significant questions asked, along with guidelines for classroom implementation of the standards. (MJP)

This document contrasts the concept of multiculturalism as it appears in the proposed New York State curriculum guide, "A Curriculum of Inclusion," and as it appears in the California State history/social sciences curriculum. California uses the following approaches to reflect the multiracial, multicultural nature of American society:…