Various approaches to developing and implementing economics curricula are explored, including positive and normative economics, teacher-developed informal curriculum, district-developed formal curriculum, "outside" curriculum, the infusion approach, or as a separate course. It is suggested that a "blend" of the alternatives may optimize the…

While progress has been made, sex equity in education remains an elusive goal. This article identifies strategies that can be used to achieve and maintain sex equity. Research on creating change in education is reviewed, and what, in practice, has succeeded is discussed. (MT)

Ten guidelines formulated to assist policy decision makers in developing system-wide approaches to creating strong and effective language programs are discussed in this article. (DF)

A transactive curriculum development system is described which comprehensively identifies characteristics of a learning environment and suggests curriculum content that takes into account both external demands and students' interests. The curriculum encourages students to be independent learners without sacrificing basic skills or alienating…

This article introduces some of the background and concepts of technical assistance, provides some guidelines for planning and implementing a technical assistance program, and presents one successful approach for technical assistance which is adaptable to other settings. (CJ)

Task forces are increasingly used in educational planning activities. Some basic functional principles pertaining to task forces are considered and followed by a description of the accomplishments of a current task force which is focusing on personnel preparation for teaching handicapped students. (CJ)

This article describes how to identify implicit theories of teaching and learning through a workshop which creates an open, reciprocal climate that enhances self-knowledge and knowledge of others and facilitates communication. (CJ)

Describes efforts to help teachers learn to use new math and reading assessments in their classrooms, highlighting characteristics of professional development that successfully foster change in teachers' ideas and practice. After describing a multi-year staff development/research project on assessment, the paper discusses factors that support and…

Describes two minority educators' approaches to literacy teaching, discussing the literacy debate and cultural relevance. The article examines common threads that make the educators' pedagogy appropriate for teaching African-American students successfully. The article examines how and why teachers of African-American students achieve success. (SM)

Examines characteristics of successful book-reading programs for low-income African-American children and parents to encourage literacy. The paper focuses on the Parents as Partners in Reading program which encouraged and guided parents in specific, appropriate ways to assist in their children's development and learning. (SM)

Suggests why qualitative research is frequently neither discussed nor used by the broad public, considering five barriers to making research more accessible, discussing how to make it more germane to problems faced by diverse groups in their everyday lives, and offering constructive ways to make qualitative research findings more accessible to the…