This project assesses the feasibility of creating a voluntary, nationwide data dictionary that can be used to standardize the reporting of postsecondary accountability reporting requirements for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (otherwise known as Perkins IV). Variables, field codes, and programming instructions,…

The Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for Minnesota families with children from birth to the age of kindergarten enrollment. This booklet provides answers to common questions asked by individuals interested in the ECFE. The booklet's first section, "What Is Early Childhood Family Education," describes the model, while…

This report seeks to raise awareness of the critical importance of chronic early absence, synthesize available data on the scope of the challenge, and share emerging insights about how schools and communities can use chronic early absence to identify and address challenges affecting the social, educational and physical well-being of children and…

This paper discusses the problems associated with mathematics anxiety, and provides detailed information on the history and structure of the Mathematics Anxiety Program at the University of Minnesota. The seven parts concern: (1) the Continuing Education for Women Program, (2) the development of the Math Anxiety Program, (3) the symptoms of…

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;…

Needs of college of education faculty for computer literacy are discussed. A definition of computer literacy is first given, followed by an example of how it was developed in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota. (MNS)

The Total Energy Management (TEM) for Minnesota Schools program is a unified, planned approach to reducing the energy use and costs of an individual school or school district. The program is designed to increase energy awareness and improve school energy efficiency through: (1) careful energy accounting; (2) changes in operations and maintenance…

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…

A University of Minnesota model for low incidence preservice special education teacher training is focused on visual impairment education and requires completion of four graduate level components for licensure. This model attempts to be flexible and address the needs of the field in providing qualified personnel that will remain in local school…

This paper describes a successful facilitator training model, developed as part of an Adult Basic/Continuing Education (AB/CE) staff development program in Minnesota. The following topics are included: (1) the new basics and what is taught in the Minnesota AB/CE programs; (2) how these new basics are taught, emphasizing Malcolm Knowles' model of…

One of the four case studies addressing access of rural students to vocational education through inter-school district cooperation, the Heartland case study represents the decentralized variation of the center cooperative school pattern, identifies essential features of this form of cooperation, details factors facilitating/impeding the…

The centralized secondary center pattern of inter-school district cooperation is examined in this third of four case studies addressing access of rural students to vocational education. The report identifies essential features of this form of cooperation, details factors facilitating/impeding the operation/maintenance of the cooperative…

Three schools in Minnesota have designed a shared-resource project to address the areas of career, gifted and talented, and chemical and drug education, to provide guidance and counseling services, to add and enhance course offerings, and to develop an individualized instruction program (IEP) for every tenth- and eleventh-grade student. (MM)

This paper summarizes the 16 projects that have been funded by the Minnesota Extension Service to demonstrate innovative and effective uses of technology in adult education. Several of the projects are described in detail. Actual and anticipated impacts are examined, and suggested strategies that others can apply to reach and empower rural adult…

This collection contains descriptions of model entrepreneurship education programs submitted by 10 states. The first section deals with the Colorado Network of Small Business Programs and the Colorado Entrepreneurship Education Infusion Project. Described next is a model teacher education program in entrepreneurship education that was implemented…