An attempt was made to test the assumption that a wide variety of institutions and agencies have the fiscal and managerial capability to house a programmatic research and development effort for education. To this end, interviews were conducted with the staff director or principal investigator of four Follow Through programs affiliated with member…

Interactive research in the area of staff development at the building site level has been conducted recently by the Research and Development Center of the University of Texas, Austin. In this research study staff developers, principals, and resource teachers are given training, research information, and implementation strategies to improve…

PRISM, the Pittsburgh Research-Based Instructional Supervisory Model, was initiated when the superintendent convened an Instructional Leadership Committee (ILC) to develop a plan for improving instruction and instructional leadership within the district. The Pittsburgh Public Schools' Learning Research Development Center then conducted a…

Since 1976 China has entered a new historical period in which the central task is to modernize agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology (S&T). The modernization of S&T is the key to the realization of the modernization in the other three fields. China has established a research and development (R&D) system of…

Reform of teacher education must be based on substantial emphasis on the liberal arts and major academic disciplines, and rigorous admission and graduation requirements. The professional curriculum must be relevant to the world of teaching and learning. Teachers are now being prepared for a world of professional practice that should not exist;…

Background information is presented on the history and operation of educational research and development (R&D) centers supported by the National Institute of Education (NIE). The objective is to provide information for the four study groups that are assisting NIE in identifying missions for center competition. In addition, some lessons that…

Rapid social and demographic changes will have an impact on the future training of teachers. The emergence of an unmotivated urban student population from families who undervalue education will pose increasing problems for teachers. While teachers' knowledge of subject matter is essential, insights into the ecology of the classroom, the nature of…

Changes in planning and design of educational facilities in Greece, formalized by legislation in 1985, were the result of major educational and social reforms begun in 1982. This report analyzes issues involved during the present educational facilities transitional phase and recommends establishment of a central support service. The legislative…

This paper describes the results of an evaluation of the Palliative Care Service, one of the first hospices in North America (Montreal), and the implications of that research for social policy development. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the reliability of predictive assessments of bereavement risk and the effectiveness of…

The continuing development of educational professionals (teachers and administrators) takes place in three types of institutions. Advanced degree programs offered in colleges and universities that lead to the master's and doctorate degrees are the mainstay of continuing development. Second in importance are the staff development programs sponsored…

This study focuses on school report cards as an accountability tool, and on how their use interacts with one of the most persistent problems facing the public education system, i.e., the continuing underachievement of minority students. The paper looks specifically at the issues concerning the desirability of reporting student performance by race…

Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides a foundation for healthy development. It is the process children, youth, and adults go through to develop the skills to engage with others, manage their emotions, show empathy, handle stress, resolve stress, set goals, and make responsible decisions to succeed in work and life. School climate is a…

This paper presents ideas relating to curriculum organization from the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development publication, "Excellence in Our Schools: Making It Happen," which attempted to synthesize nine reports written in response to the National Commission on Excellence in Education report, "A Nation at…

Changes in the American economy and in the nature and organization of work fundamentally challenge the educational system and have implications for the Federal Government's role. Case studies of the insurance, banking, and textile industries demonstrate the following changes in the nature and structure of work: (1) both service and manufacturing…

The issue of leadership is addressed as it applies to Canadian universities and their role in advancing Canada's economic development, international competitiveness, social justice and the quality of life, both at home and abroad. How the university system in Canada has answered this leadership role is detailed through the listing of successes and…