Issues and Opportunities in the Middle School Years: Implementation of the Turning Points Recommendations

Educational reforms intended to improve the learning and social environment for middle school students are now under way. These are aimed at making junior high schools student-centered, interdisciplinary, and flexible. The author reviews what has been learned from several major projects undertaken to accomplish middle school reform, presents examples from communities that are successfully implementing these reforms, and concludes with a series of guidelines that can be used by those interested in enhancing the experience of middle school students.