The National Policy Board for Educational Administration, an umbrella organization of 10 national groups, is focusing on preparation and certification programs for the principalship. Describes the board's activities and cites arguments for professional certification by an independent national board. (15 references) (MLF)

Vouchers' constitutionality was given new life by "Agostini vs. Felton," in which the U.S. Supreme Court reversed an earlier decision banning onsite delivery of Title I services in sectarian schools. "Agostini" may signal a new era favoring increased aid to religiously affiliated schools, such as those participating in…

If a charter-school act permits too much freedom from state regulations, it may create private schools ineligible for state funding. In "Council of Organizations about Parochiaid v. Governor," the Michigan courts ruled on levels of state control necessary for charter schools to be considered public. At least 13 states would fail the…

Discusses several qualitative benchmarks of Amish schools underlying the movement's growth in Indiana. Surveys Amish cultural history and cultural values relevant to schooling and discusses the Old Order Amish school setting and curriculum. Analyzes this unique educational environment from perspectives of three Amish cultural values: the…

When surveyed concerning their views on science education's development functions, Botswana junior-level science teachers reported mediocre performance for socioeconomic developmental functions over the past decade. The system seems to work well at combatting the HIV/AIDS virus, preparing students for further study, and instilling some…

Reviews the history of nongraded high schools, from Preston Search's pioneering efforts in Pueblo, Colorado, to early 1900s Dalton and Winnetka Plans and midcentury continuous-progress plans. Competency, not age, already determines participation in band, orchestra, choir, and athletics. Curricula should be based on the structure, methodology, and…

Serious interest in reducing class size often begins with a key question: What available evidence would support the higher implementation costs? This article discusses positive results of a longitudinal statewide study in Tennessee (Project STAR) and uses findings to specify four guidelines for practitioners and policy makers. Evaluation plans…

Shows how differing perspectives of three cooperating researchers (a public-affairs specialist, a sociologist- anthropologist, and an educational psychologist) informed a project to investigate discipline, suspension, and expulsion data generated by a local school district for 1994-95. The advantages of multiple perspectives to educational…

Summarizes a study exploring the extent to which five Virginia school systems took advantage of building a new secondary school to address the need for fundamental educational change. Franklin County took greatest advantage of new construction, designing a technology and career-exploration center. Manassas Park designed a fairly innovative…

Describes a plan to introduce and achieve a national awareness of agility (and easy entry into the world market) for Albania through the relatively stable higher-education order. Agility's four strategic principles are enriching the customer, cooperating to enhance competitiveness, organizing to master change and uncertainty, and leveraging the…

The administrator preparation programs at the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University both have a strong critical-thinking component. The universities share a common vision to promote and maximize learning opportunities for all within a community of learners, explore appropriate instructional strategies, model the notion of…

A "fact sheet" is defined as a single two-sided sheet (or one-page folded brochure) that briefly describes all major aspects of a scientific survey or poll in nontechnical terms. A fact sheet can be used to plan all phases of a survey, from clarifying purpose, to distributing results. A fact sheet may be used as a communication tool in…

Reviews Cuban educational reforms, highlighting 1959, 1976, and 1980s initiatives. Compares Cuba's progress with John Kotter's eight-step process based on establishing a sense of urgency, creating a guiding coalition, developing and communicating the change vision, empowering broad-based action, generating short-term wins, consolidating gains, and…

Teachers at Fort Wayne (Indiana) Community School are groundbreakers in "looping," a practice involving multiyear teaching assignments and no historical antecedent. Experienced loopers participating in an evaluation study reported that looping was great for students (especially at-risk kids) and hard on teachers; fostered a family…

West Virginia has yet to satisfy its circuit and supreme courts, despite massive efforts to reform the K-12 system and its financial support plan. Reasons for failure include lack of statewide financial commitment to public education, a resistant cultural climate, downsizing of staff, decreasing enrollments, lack of consensus about educational…