Challenge And Opportunity

This report examines the operational and educational changes that school administrators attribute to charter schools. It is part of the U.S. Department of Education's 4-year study to document and analyze the charter-school movement. The study asked two questions: What changes have districts made in district operations and district education that can be attributed to charter schools? and Under what conditions do charter schools affect change in district operations and district education? To answer these questions, researchers conducted in-depth site visits in 14 school districts and interviewed by telephone administrators in 35 other districts. The results indicate that every district in the study reported being affected by charter schools and, accordingly, had made operational changes. Nearly half of the district leaders believed that their diminished budgets were attributable to charter schools and had begun tracking the number of students who attended these schools. Likewise, almost half of these leaders reported becoming more customer-service oriented, increasing their marketing and public-relations efforts, or heightening their frequency of communication with parents. Most districts also implemented new educational programs, made changes in educational structures in district schools, and/or created new schools with programs that were similar to those in the local charter schools. (Contains 20 references.) (RJM)

This book provides a critical analysis of the most significant developments in the college systems in every province and territory since 1895. With contributions by leading scholars, it addresses such topics as leadership, entrepreneurship, new forms of organization, accountability, instructional methodology, the emergence of a college culture, and education of First Nations students. Key questions are explored. How are differences in collective and individual interests to be managed? How can social, economic, and demographic realities be taken into account in managing the 'intangible capital' of education? What are the best ways of ensuring opportunities for education, training, flexibility, and varied access and mobility within higher education systems?

This book discusses legal education in multicultural classes. Comparative law education is now widespread throughout the world, and there is a growing trend in developed countries toward teaching global law. Providing theoretical answers on how to describe each legal culture and tradition side-by-side, it also explores educational methodological options to address these aspects without causing offence or provoking tension within a multicultural student community. The book examines nine countries on three continents, bringing together academic views and educational insights from ten scholars in the field of comparative law.

Authored by Professor Yu Keping, a famous Chinese political scholar, this book focuses on the core issues of democracy and the rule of law in China. It provides the readers with insights into China's political development in the past 60 years and the changes in China's governance in the past 30 years, especially pertaining to democracy in China's governance. The book encapsulates Prof Yu's reform ideas on political development in China, and gives the readers a glimpse into the future of China's democracy. Contents:Democracy:Human Rights and DeomcracyDemocracy in China: Challenge or Opportunity?Democracy or Populism: The Politics of Public Opinion in ChinaPushing Forward Orderly DemocracyGovernance:Governance and Good GovernanceGood Governance and LegitimacyModernizing State Governance: Restructuring the Relationship between the State, the Market and Society Since the reform in ChinaLearning, Training and Governing: The CCP's Cadre Education since the reformGlobalization:Globalization and State SovereigntyGlobalization and the "Chinese Model"Citizenship and Institutional Change at the Global Age: the New Migration Movement in China Readership: Researchers, students and the general public who are interested in China's political development in the past 60 years.Key Features:The author, Professor Yu Keping, is a prominent scholar in the study of democratic polity and political democracy in ChinaThe book captures not only the history of China's democracy, but also provides the readers with insights into the future of China's democracy

This proceedings volume focuses on different aspects of environmental assessment, monitoring, and management of urban and technogenic soils. Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas (SUITMAs) differ substantially from their natural zonal counterparts in their physical, chemical and biological features, their performed functions, and supported services. This book discusses the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the effects of urbanization on soil functions and services. Further, it helps to find solutions to the environmental consequences of urbanization and discusses best management practices such as management and design of urban green infrastructure, waste management, water purification, and reclamation and remediation of contaminated soils in the context of sustainable urban development. The book includes thematic sections corresponding to 14 sessions of the SUITMA 9 congress, covering broad topics that highlight the importance of urban soils for society and environment and summarizing the lessons learned and existing methodologies in analyses, assessments, and modeling of anthropogenic effects on soils and the related ecological risks. This proceedings book appeals to scientists and students as well as practitioners in soil and environmental science, urban planning, geography and related disciplines, and provides useful information for policy makers and other stakeholders working in urban management and greenery.