School Reform Initiatives & Issues

Andrew J. Coulson: Citizen's Reform Guide
Details on the current problems and reform initiatives. Dispels myths about trends, with research to support school choice as a reform measure.

California State Department of Education: Diversity: Educators Issues and Responses Guide
Information and resources for educators on incorporating multiculturalism in the classroom, cooperative learning, and links to related resources.

Center for Education Reform: School Accountability and Standards Guide
The Center for Education Reform offers this concise explanation of the role, and debate about, accountability and standards in educational reform.

Center for Education Reform: School Choice Information Guide
The School Choice Information Guide offers news updates and position papers about school choice issues, from the Center for Education Reform.

Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant: Charter Schools Office
An explanation of the history, philosophy, and logistics of the Charter Schools Initiative, legislative and grant data, and supporting literature.

Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Education: Virginia Public Schools and The Standards of Learning
Standards regarding English, history and social science, mathematics, and science, widely regarded as the best state standards in the country.

Connected Family: Bridging the Digital Generation Gap
A companion site to 'The Connected Family: Bridging the Digital Generation Gap', written in 1996 by leading learning theorist Seymour Papert.

David S. Bennahum: The Nicholas Negroponte Interview
Transcript of a 1995 interview by David Bennahum, with Nicholas Negroponte, the well-respected founder and director of the MIT Media Lab.

English First: Language Education and Research Guide
Information on language education, supporting English as America's official language and illustrating the divisiveness of multilingual policies.

Global School Net Foundation: Education Reform Styles and Resources Guide
Educational reform movements, including school choice, outcome-based education, teacher development, and the people responsible for each style.

Global School Net Foundation: EdWeb
A resource guide for K-12 educators wishing to use the web as a teaching tool, with coverage of the recent developments in educational reform.

Into the Matrix: Seymour Papert Interview
Transcript of a 1996 interview with the greatly admired Seymour Papert, a leading theorist and author in the area of technology and learning.

James Glassman: Reason: Class Acts
Article discusses the effect of charter schools on the public school system and how traditional public schools improve due to competition.

Jeff Lindsay: Case Against Block Scheduling
Arguments against block scheduling, explain the advantages of the method, countering with attention span and "watered-down" curricula problems.

John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland: Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk
This organization urges the research, development, and evaluation of programs for children from poor and minority families "at risk" of failure.

Living Classrooms Foundation: Experiential Learning Programs Information Guide
Shipboard and land-based curricula offer chances for students to virtually participate. Schools must register to join in the online journeys.

Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications: Health Education Information and Resources Guide
Descriptions of the project's various products and interactive web sites, information on partnerships and participating communities, and links.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: Epistemology and Learning Group: Media Laboratory: Re-Thinking School Information Guide
Educational technology and reform theory, with Seymour Papert's testimony from a House of Representatives Panel on Technology and Education.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: Media Laboratory: Marvin Minsky
Biography of Marvin Minksy, who has made many contributions to AI, cognitive psychology, mathematics, computational linguistics, and optics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: Media Laboratory: Nicholas Negroponte
Biography of Nicholas Negroponte, a pioneer in the field of computer-aided design, and who has been a member of the MIT faculty since 1966.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: Media Laboratory: Seymour Papert
Brief biography of Seymour Papert, who is internationally recognized as the seminal thinker about ways in which computers can change learning.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge: Media Laboratory: Seymour Papert: Technology in Schools: Local Fix or Global Transformation?
A transcript of Seymour Papert's remarks from a House of Representatives Panel on Technology and Education, which was held October 12, 1995.

Michael G. Sabia: Block Scheduling House of Problems
The types, theory, and development of block scheduling, with research, papers, testimonials, and case studies demonstrating its ineffectiveness.

Mid-Continental Regional Education Laboratory: Education Standards and Benchmarks Guide
K-12 standards and benchmarks from various organizations, with questions educators should ask before implementing standards at the local level.

Mid-Continental Regional Education Laboratory: Office of Educational Research and Improvement: Connections Plus Resources Guide
Lesson plans, activities, and curriculum resources for major subjects as well as languages, behavioral and social sciences, economics and more.

National Academy of Sciences: National Science Education Standards
Standards for science education, from NAS, for teaching, curriculum content, programs and systems, professional development, and assessment.

National Education Association: Innovative Approaches
Descriptions of and links to sites for major education reform initiatives in the United States., including projects, programs, and organizations.

National Journal: Rochelle Stanfield: Testing, Testing
Article on the political dimensions of Clinton's call for voluntary national achievement tests; policies; and who supports and opposes the idea.

National Parent Teacher Association: National Standards for Parents Involvement Programs
The NPTA sets standards for family involvement programs, arguing that such education programs can increase student achievement and success.

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory: Urban Youth Resilience Development Guide
Supporting resilience in youth whose educational, social, and employment opportunities are limited by the conditions under which they live.

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois: Institute for the Learning Sciences: Engines for Education Information Guide
Read this hyperbook discussing the state of U. S. education, the need for dramatic educational reform, and the role of technology in that reform.

Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, England: United Kingdom: Center for Studies on Inclusive Education
Information about inclusive education, focusing on international developments, the definition of and philosophy behind inclusion, and other data.

Putnam Valley Schools, New York: Developing Educational Standards
Text and links to national curriculum standards, including federal measures and statewide centers and resources, listed by discipline and state.

RMC Research Corporation: Families and Education Information Guide
Documents regarding parental involvement in education, with discussions about the role of parents in education, and educational family activities.

Robert Werz: Bureau for At Risk Youth
The Bureau provides this resource center for at-risk students, parents, and teachers, an at-risk FAQ, hotline numbers for crisis centers, more.

Stanford University, Stanford, California: School of Education: Accelerated Schools Project Guide
The history and philosophy of the accelerated school trend, boasting improvement of student achievement, school climate, and community interest.

Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania: Minorities and Mathematics Information Guide
Swarthmore College offers these indexed links to informational sites concerning minorities in education, focusing on mathematics and science.

Syracuse University, New York: Charter School Research
The philosophy of and resources for charter schools, the debate surrounding them, and evolving sections to which users can add links or comments.

The Atlantic Monthly: David L. Kirp: What School Choice Really Means
Article by David L. Kirp, citing the successful reform of East Harlem schools as reasons for parents to choose the schools their children attend.

The Atlantic Monthly: Michael Barrett: Case for More School Days
An article by Michael Barrett on extending the length of the school year in the U.S., and the poor academic performance of American students.

The New York Times: Chistopher Lehmann-Haupt: Vision of a Rosy Future for Man and Machine
A factual review, by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, of Nicholas Negroponte's 'Being Digital', as published in 'The New York Times' on Jan. 30, 1995.

The New York Times: Christopher Lehmann-Haupt: Learning Better How to Link Up Computers and Education
A review by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of Seymour Papert's seminal book, 'The Children's Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer'.

The New York Times: Christopher Lehmann-Haupt: Mosaic of the Mind
The text of a review by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, of Marvin Minsky's 'The Society of Mind', published in 'The New York Times' on Feb. 16, 1987.

The New York Times: James W. Lance: If I Only Had A Brain: A Computer's Guide
Full text of a review by James W. Lance, of Marvin Minsky's 'The Society of Mind', which was published in 'The New York Times' on Feb. 22, 1987.

The New York Times: Nicholas Lehmann: Grading the Public Schools
An insightful review by Nicholas Lehmann, of Neil Postman's 'The End of Education', (Alfred A. Knopf, 1995) published in 'The New York Times'.

The New York Times: Samuel C. Florman: He Has Seen the Future and It Works
Read this review by Samuel C. Florman, of Nicholas Negroponte's 'Being Digital', which was published in 'The New York Times' on Feb. 5, 1995.

United States Charter Schools: Online Charter Schools Information Guide
Exploration of charter schools, and guidance for starting a charter school, with a directory of organizations, schools, and research resources.

United States Department of Education: America Reads Challenge Guide
Program calling for all American children to read well by the end of third grade. Volunteer opportunities, publications, research and more.

United States Department of Education: Blue Ribbon Schools Guide
Click to this USDOE site for an in-depth explanation of the Blue Ribbon Schools program. Covers application procedures, winners, and FAQs.

United States Department of Education: ED Initiatives Guide
Biweekly update on the effects and progress of Secretary of Education Richard Riley's initiatives and priorities; archives back to Aug. 1995.

United States Department of Education: Education Reforms and Students at Risk Guide
A Report on the growing numbers of students "at risk," calling for school reform as well as an examination of factors that influence education.

United States Department of Education: Prisoners of Time
Debate on the traditional school calendar, claiming that rigid adherence to it "assures the failure of many," creating "prisoners of time."

United States Department of Education: Public Charter Schools Program Guide
Facts on financial assistance for charter schools, from U.S. Department of Education, covering eligibility, appropriation sum, and legislation.

United States Department of Education: School Districts Flexibility and Waivers Guide
Get information on flexibility initiatives for school districts and schools, including official statements on and updates of the waiver programs.

United States Department of Education: State Curriculum Frameworks and Content Standards Guide
State curriculum standards from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, with abstracts of standards for many, but not all, states.

United States Department of Education: Technology and Education Reform Guide
Why technology is important to educational reform. Explores the rationale behind technology reform, discussing various reform approaches.

United States Department of Education: Voluntary National Tests Guide
Site offers the proposed content frameworks for the tests, presenting the 10-point plan for improving education and other relevant reports.

United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Connecting to the Future: A Guide for Building a Network Infrastructure for Education
A companion site to the video "Connecting to the Future," which guides communities toward building a functional education network infrastructure.

University of Idaho, Moscow: Associated Students: Marvin Minsky: Conscious Machines
Read an essay by respected intelligence philosopher Marvin Minsky, rejecting the position that machines will never achieve consciousness.

University of Kansas, Lawrence: Center for Research on Learning
An organization researching and improving the education of at-risk children and adults promotes and explains the Strategic Instruction Model.

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls: Inclusive Education Information and Resources Guide
Clarifying the philosophy, standards, and legislation on inclusive education: guidance for teachers and schools, financial and pedagogical tips.

University of Oregon, Eugene: Association for Direct Instruction
Explore ability grouping, with research and remarks supporting the view that achievement grouping can be structured to succeed for all students.

University of Oregon, Eugene: Systemic Reform at the Top
An article on educational reform standards, using the current educational system in California as an example of reform initiatives gone awry.

University of Southern California at Los Angeles: Language and Culture Information Guide
A USC project working with language minority paraeducators to increase the number of Latino and other language minority teachers in schools.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville: Adapted Physical Education National Standards Guide
History, goals, standards, and certifications of this organization which develops professional standards for adapted physical education teachers.

Voices of Chicago School Reform, Illinois: Catalyst
Read articles from professional teaching organizations, educational associations, and research centers on many educational and reform issues.

Wired Magazine Group: HotWired.com: Nicholas Negroponte
An insightful interview with Nicholas Negroponte (founder of the prestigious MIT Media Laboratory), from 'Wired' magazine (November 1995).

Wired Magazine Group: HotWired.com: Seymour Papert: Obsolete Skill Set: The 3 Rs
Peruse this article from 'Wired' magazine (June 1993) in which Seymour Papert argues for the restructuring of today's American educational system.