By Katy Murphy, The Oakland Tribune, Calif. Jun. 16--OAKLAND -- The Alternative Learning Community opened last fall as a middle school for students teetering between success and failure. It was built in a hurry.

By Hesperia Star, Calif. May 23--Over the last several years as co-teacher of the school district's Community Day School, Ruth Forman has faced a veritable mountain of minutia that she conquers every day. But in a matter of hours the never-ending to-do list will disappear.