School districts, like many other societal groups, function as a system--a dynamically complex web of interaction in which each aspect of the district affects all other aspects. School districts have many outside forces to which they must respond, including state and federal mandates. These mandates impose top-down initiatives with little to no…

In January 1993, the Illinois Articulation Initiative was launched to facilitate the transfer of students among Illinois colleges and universities through the development of a general education core curriculum and agreements on the courses essential for students transferring to baccalaureate majors. This report provides an overview of the…

Case studies of three states were conducted to examine different approaches to the development of policies concerning early intervention, family support, and interagency provisions under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study utilized a qualitative methodology aimed at discovering grounded theory (theory generated…

This final report describes a 3-year project to provide services to all children (approximately 144) between 0-21 years with deaf blindness in Colorado. The project addressed seven areas: (1) information for identification, (2) technical assistance to develop services, (3) home-based services to infants and toddlers, (4) transition services, (5)…

This book provides a group of articles concerning the equity and efficiency of prepaid college tuition plans. Chapters: (1) introduce the subject; (2) examine the competing financial theories at play in this field; (3) present a study of the Michigan Education Trust's decision to expand its subscriber base by offering a monthly payment option; (4)…

This manual presents Missouri state guidelines for its surrogate parent program, required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 94-142), and currently under development in Missouri. An introductory chapter reviews the program's current status, outlines the surrogate parent role, and notes special considerations for students…

This manual presents information about major causes of developmental disabilities, discusses strategies to prevent development disabilities, and identifies relevant resources and reference material. Introductory information defines developmental disabilities and prevention (under Virginia statutes). The first section considers causes prior to and…

Information on the implementation of services for preschool children with special needs and their families, acquired from a survey of 60 states and jurisdictions is presented. The information is organized into nine sections reflecting major state activities related to the Part B--Section 619 portion of the Individuals with Disabilities Education…

Surveys listing 20 issues relating to school choice and special education were sent to the 102 Directors of Special Education in Minnesota. Directors were asked to rate issues as important or not important. The 54 responding directors identified the following issues as most important: (1) excess program costs; (2) effects of enrollment options on…

A student flow model is presented to raise the awareness of administrators and community leaders regarding the impact of proposed testing requirements in the state of Florida; i.e., the addition of a State Student Assessment Test (SSAT) of functional literacy, a statewide college entry level test, and the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST)…

The Maine Department of Educational and Cultural Services (DECS) received funding under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 to develop a state plan for assuring access to a free and appropriate education for homeless children and youth. A second-year grant was to be made to DECS upon submission of a state plan to the U.S.…

The master plan set forth in this document is the blueprint for restructuring vocational education in Texas. At the elementary and secondary level, the State Board of Education's mission for public education calls for all students to receive an education that will enable them to live and work in a changing society. To fulfill this mission, the…

This sourcebook provides information for educators and community leaders involved in dropout prevention planning. The indexed, looseleaf notebook places boldface keywords in each entry's upper right-hand corner. Thirteen sections contain summaries of sources and ordering procedures. Section A deals with general reports and literature reviews;…

Outgrowths of Mississippi's Education Reform Act of 1982 include the development of more stringent standards for both school accreditation and teacher certification. Successful completion of staff development has become the basis for recertification of Mississippi teachers and administrators, and, beginning in the 1984-85 school year, districts…

Prepared by a task force of Wisconsin educators, these guidelines are intended to be used by school board members, administrators, and curriculum leaders, including teachers, library media specialists, and other educators, to ensure that the school library media program is an integral part of their school's instructional program. Designed to…