ABSTRACT
Reform has been a part of the school vernacular for years. Each decade seems to bring a new idea for improving schools. In the 1950s, the comprehensive model was seen as the salvation of the high school. The 1960s brought a plethora of reform efforts from upgraded, multiage classrooms to team teaching. Back to basics dominated the 1970s as states instituted basic skills testing to guarantee minimal performance for all high school graduates. The report, A Nation at Risk, captured the attention of educators in the 1980s as schools moved to increase graduation requirements, lengthen the school day, and raise expectations. Effective schools were viewed as orderly, humane institutions with high expectations for all students and frequent monitoring of student progress.
