Definition This is an approach to restructuring the governance and practices of individual schools, initiated by psychologist James Comer in the mid-1970s. This approach hinges on Comer’s theory of how children develop and learn, and the reasons that disadvantaged, minority children do not learn in schools. Comer believes that children follow a developmental continuum. They are born, totally dependent, into a family that is part of a social network with beliefs, attitudes, activities, and lifestyles. Parents become mediators who tell children what is important. Children gradually learn to manage their feelings and impulses, in essence, to control themselves. Development occurs [...]

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Definition In 1986, Stanford University introduced the concept of accelerated schools, an approach designed to create success for all students by closing the achievement gap between at-risk and mainstream children. The idea is to radically change individual schools by redesigning and integrating curricular, instructional, and organizational practices so that they provide enrichment–not just remediation–for at-risk students. The accelerated schools program assumes that at-risk students have “learning gaps” in areas valued by schools and mainstream economic and social institutions. The program also assumes that remedial approaches fail to close these gaps because they don’t build on the students’ strengths and they [...]

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Definition In concept, a charter school is a self-governing, publicly funded school that the community holds accountable for the results it produces–such as student learning–rather than for its compliance with school board or government rules and regulations. A charter school operates without the typical restraints of an ordinary public school, for example, collective-bargaining agreements. Its enrollment is made up of students who want to attend that specific school–in effect, a charter school is a school of choice. In addition to its unique legal and governance structure, a charter school takes on elements of site-based management: People at the school site [...]

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Definition Total Quality schools apply the principles and practices of Total Quality Management to their administrative and instructional functions. Basic Elements When introduced in schools, the Total Quality process usually involves a combination of the following elements: Understanding Systems and Processes–Education administrators make efforts to understand their school as a system containing many subsystems and processes. To do so, they often will “map” their systems and “flowchart” their processes. Schools will then strive to improve by redesigning their systems. Using Data for Decision-Making–Employees learn to use data in decision-making. This frequently involves employing statistical methods to understand why processes vary. [...]

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