Sources of Information and Assistance in Using and Understanding Reform Strategies and Activities

Numerous resources are available to school personnel attempting to implement education reforms. The survey asked public school principals whether 19 specific sources have been helpful to them in trying to understand or use comprehensive reform strategies or activities (Table 4 and appendix Table B-13, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). Sources cited as very helpful by 30 percent or more of principals were institutes or workshops (41 percent), other principals (33 percent), the school district (32 percent), and state- or district-sponsored education conferences (31 percent). Less frequently cited sources were U.S. Department of Education regional labs, other U.S. Department of Education offices or programs, the media, and teacher organizations (each with 3 percent).

About half of public school principals most preferred to receive information through workshops and summer institutes (52 percent), and slightly fewer (42 percent) preferred to receive information in hard copy documents such as journal articles and magazines (Figure 7 and appendix table B-14). A small proportion (6 percent) preferred to receive information electronically.

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