The 1995-96 ASCD Review Council has completed a report that examines the role of teachers in ASCD, including its affiliates. The percentage of teacher members of ASCD has increased 133 percent over the past 10 years, the report notes. Teachers now make up more than 24 percent of ASCD's membership.
The Review Council concluded that ASCD has achieved "a balance of programs, services, and outreach congruent with the proportion of members who are teachers." However, the Council also found that "with few exceptions, the involvement of teachers in governance and appointed working groups is not reflective of teacher membership at both the international and affiliate levels."
The report recommends, among other things, that ASCD provide support to affiliates to increase teacher membership and active participation; explore strategies to increase teacher participation on ASCD working groups; and survey teachers periodically to determine their needs and concerns.
The members of the Review Council who wrote the report are Maryann Johnson (chair), Arthur Costa, Quincy Harrigan, Phil Robinson, and Sandra Gray Wegner. For copies of the complete report, contact Diane Berreth at ASCD, 1250 N. Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (800) 933-ASCD; (dberreth@ascd.org).