Dramatic changes in the higher education landscape and the recent recession have intensified the challenges students face in postsecondary enrollment and completion. In response, some states, communities, and institutions have developed "postsecondary opportunity programs (POPs)"--comprehensive college access and success programs…

In the past few years, numerous states have initiated school improvement programs. These programs have included any or all of the following characteristics: (1) teacher and administrator certification and competency tests; (2) school-based planning; (3) staff development; (4) student assessment; (5) revised curricula and instructional strategies;…

This case study is intended to provide education planners in other states with information on Colorado's experience with the Lifelong Learning Project. It is organized into several sections. To set the context, major circumstances affecting state-level planning and policy development are described. They are presented under two headings: (1)…

Describes an environmental simulation exercise conducted at an outdoor camp in Colorado. The two simulations involved the physical, social, political and environmental factors which might influence construction of an airport in the Rocky Mountain National Park and factors associated with a nuclear generating plant. (BR)

This publication summarizes the proceedings of a conference of college and university policymakers convened to develop strategies to increase the recruitment and retention of minority faculty in Colorado institutions of higher education. Following an executive summary the first section presents information on the status of minorities in Colorado…

Summaries of the design, planning, and implementation of performance funding programs in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington reveal the challenges and opportunities of this reform approach. Performance measures and objectives and the history of the program in each…

Learner-controlled education is a multimedia, self-pacing, individualized educational program used for 15 years in the electronics laboratory at the University of Northern Colorado. Most of the students are industrial arts majors in the teacher education program. Program content is organized for classroom use in learning activity packets.…

Ten rural school improvement clusters involving 63 districts, 7 colleges and universities, and 6 state departments of education have been developed in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota through the work of the Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory's Rural Education Project. Four essential steps appear necessary for…

To obtain practical experience, a research methods class at the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs) undertook a special project to help a nearby county (Park County), assess its planning needs. The county was chosen for its characteristics as a rapidly growing rural area faced with the problems created by mounting population pressure on…

Technological delivery systems currently available or in use are examined for adaptability by rural schools, especially high schools faced with increasing demands to expand curriculum. This report focuses on the Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory's (McREL's) service area of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South…

This booklet summarizes some of Colorado's successful career development projects and provides a resource for delivering comprehensive career guidance programs. The first section of the booklet outlines the role of career development in Colorado and the National Career Development Guidelines of the National Occupational Information Coordinating…

The purposes of the Colorado Science Teaching Enhancement Program (CO-STEP) are to improve the background in science content and the instructional skills of teachers in grades four through six throughout Colorado and to support the implementation of effective instruction. A network of six Teacher Development Centers in Colorado coordinate teacher…

To meet the growing demand for recreation services in rural communities, the Colorado Rural Recreation Director's Project (CRRDP) works as a partnership between the University of Colorado in Boulder and rural Colorado communities. During the summer months, each participating community (52 since the project's beginning in 1981) receives the…

An overview of the nature, benefits, and steps involved in Colorado's Guaranteed Graduate Program, a process that assures that high school graduates have the knowledge and skills considered essential for entry into employment and postsecondary education, begins this document. A discussion of the portfolio process follows, along with descriptions…

Summaries are provided of classroom research projects undertaken by Colorado teachers of students with learning disabilities. For each project, the document supplies the project title, researcher, school, problem statement, objective, population, assessment, procedures, evaluation, implications, and resources used. Project titles and researchers…