The federal government and private foundations for education have established postsecondary credential completion as a national imperative. Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) model was developed to increase the rate at which basic skills students advance to and succeed in college-level occupational programs,…

The first of two papers discusses serials cataloging issues, including fullness of bibliographic description, form of entry, successive versus latest entry cataloging, and microform reproductions as they affect union lists. The second paper discusses planning and implementation of the Iowa Newspaper project to inventory, catalog, and microfilm the…

Criteria for implementation of school volunteer programs include (1) effective incentives, (2) resources, and (3) political and administrative feasibility. Alternatives for state action include (1) maintaining current state policy, (2) providing leadership by endorsement and mandate, and (3) enacting legislation to provide incentives for…

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;…

The supposed gulf between curriculum development as it is practiced, and curriculum theory, may be an imaginary one, this article suggests. Textbook curriculum axioms are used to analyze Mississippi's Accountability and Instructional Management program, and it is found to be consistent with the theory taught in college classrooms. (DCS)

Describes a project at Florida State University that is designed to study competencies and develop test specifications for library media specialists. The 24 sources that form the basis for the Library Media Specialists' Test study guide are included. (MES)

Relates history and present level of environmental concern in Michigan as exemplified by organizations, materials, and projects, indicating that much of the progress in this state is due to the keen interest of citizens for environmental concerns and improvement. A 10-day workshop for teachers is also described. (DH)

Factor analysis of 556 responses to survey of mental health workers distinguished four factors involved in workers' attitudes about their performance ratings: objective validity, negative emotional response, supervisory direction, and incentives. Results showed that state workers did not view their present performance ratings, based on worker…

Describes the provisions, development, and future of the Independent-Living Initiative. Discusses its implementation at federal and state levels, and also the plans of the state of Illinois to establish a departmentwide task force to develop a system of services for youths who will be leaving foster care. (RJC)

To help new regents understand the serious nature of their responsibilities, Oklahoma requires them to take 15 hours of classes, including 2 hours on ethics. The program sets a new standard for higher education governance, intended to increase committed leadership, public respect, competitive and nationally recognizable programs, and student…

Community coalitions (CCs) have labored with some difficulty to demonstrate empirical evidence of effectiveness in preventing a wide range of adolescent problem behaviors. Training and technical assistance (TA) have been identified as important elements in promoting improved functioning of CCs. A reliable, valid, and inexpensive method to assess…

Reports the first decade of diverse accomplishments in public education and state government by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research. The accomplishments described include the importance of research findings in influencing governmental decisions, public education about government and policy issues, and monitoring legislative…

Investigated how state officials most directly involved in hunter education programs perceive problems associated with these programs. Major concerns and constraints focused on: program instruction; course content; and program communication, funding, and evaluation. Includes recommendations (based on analyses of concerns/constraints) to…

Describes procedures used by the Covina-Valley Unified School District, California, for identifying deaf and severely hard of hearing children (3 to 18 years old) who are mentally gifted. Before initiating such a program, it is suggested that there be an awareness of state requirements for classification as mentally gifted and of state funding for…

The three-day New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival provides an atmosphere that recognizes student talent without competition and that exposes teachers and students to new ideas, allowing them close contact with professional artists in a workshop setting. (Author/SJL)