THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, April 10, 1995                 TAG: 9504100045
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDY HOLDS UP MODEL FOR IMPROVEMENT

One of the largest studies ever undertaken of the nation's elementary schools has concluded that too many of them use class time poorly, are isolated from their communities, and do not teach language skills or promote civic virtues enough.

The study, to be released today by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, urges educators to devote new attention to improving elementary schools and gives them an outline of what every elementary school should have and should do - a model concept that it dubs ``The Basic School.''

Ernest L. Boyer, the Carnegie president, said that most elementary schools do not have problems as severe as those in junior and senior high schools, but many are failing or achieving only marginal academic success. Others, he said, spend years struggling to create classroom innovations that are often too complicated or too expensive. ``This is an attempt to limit and focus the agenda of elementary schools, and to emphasize what we know really works,'' Boyer said. ``There have been so many `reform-of-the-month' approaches in the last decade. It has created a lot of confusion.''

The Carnegie study, three years in preparation, will be presented this week to more than 6,000 of the nation's elementary school principals at their annual convention. It also asks educators to embrace a few key priorities that it contends have been the cornerstone of the nation's best public and private elementary schools for generations.

A ``basic school,'' the study asserts, must: Create exceptionally strong ties to parents and neighborhood leaders and give great responsibility to teachers; emphasize reading and language skills in all classes; have flexible class days that promote creative learning and link different subjects together; and vigilantly affirm civic virtues such as honesty, compassion and respect for others in all classes.

The Carnegie study also makes specific suggestions. It recommends that elementary schools have no more than 500 students, and classes of about 20 students, because that allows teachers and students to know each other better. The study also says that fifth graders should remain in elementary school because they are more comfortable with younger children. Some school systems begin middle schools with the fifth grade. ILLUSTRATION: READING IT

Copies of the study, titled ``The Basic School: A Community for

Learning,'' are available for $10 from California Princeton

Fulfillment Services,

1-800-777-4726 or 1-609-883-1759.

KEYWORDS: STUDY EDUCATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS by CNB