This document describes four states' approaches to increasing the involvement of families in schools. It discusses the strategies used by the states to: (1) enhance teachers' capacity to work with families; (2) encourage local school districts to develop family involvement programs; (3) encourage efforts that use family involvement as a component…

This "blueprint" was developed to provide educators in Florida with a unified vision of where career education is heading. It is designed to address the increasing gap between emerging job requirements and the ability of Florida's work force to meet them. It was developed to prepare students for the world of work, a competitive global…

An overview is provided of the development of the statewide computer-assisted Student On-Line Advisement and Articulation (SOLAR) system in Florida. After providing background information on the history and current status of articulation and transfer in Florida and on a 1986-87 pilot study of the feasibility of implementing the SOLAR system, the…

This practicum report is a structured account of efforts to improve student test scores and maximize the use of available test data in two rural Florida schools. This practicum was designed to evaluate the meaningfulness and use of Florida's State Student Assessment Test (SSAT) to teachers of second and third grade students. The SSAT is required…

This five-part report describes the methods and findings of a study of programs implemented at Florida's 9 public universities and 28 community colleges to enhance the participation of minority and disadvantaged students in postsecondary education. Following introductory material on the project, study design, and methods, an inventory of…

In order to analyze the California system of community college finance within a national context, a review of recent literature was followed by an intensive study and survey of eight states, chosen to illustrate alternative solutions to California financing problems. National trends among community colleges that emerged included (1) the…

Three conference sessions focused on attempts to implement minimum competency testing programs at various educational levels. In each of the sessions particular attention was paid to planning for the development of a minimum competency testing program; the processes of development, initiation, and interpretation of the results; and difficulties…

Information is provided on Florida's mental retardation facilities and programs, and specific recommendations and guidelines are given for the expansion and improvement of services. The following are specified: basic principles for the care of the mentally retarded; recommendations for legislative action, training centers, research, community…

A review of Florida's work force development (WD) system focuses on state-level entities and programs involved in providing job training services, workforce education services, and other services to help persons obtain and retain jobs. State-level WD entities consist of 10 state agencies and public-private partnerships, 2 primary state-level…

During the 1990s, an increasing number of states have become interested in social indicators as basic tools of governance. Many states have been working aggressively to develop programs and initiatives that make systematic use of social indicators, and to develop the underlying data system to measure and track such indicators. This report reviews…

The minority-student population of Florida is rapidly increasing, to the point that minorities now represent 40 percent of the nearly 2 million public school students. All indications are that this trend will continue. Many of these students have a limited English proficiency (LEP), and most LEP students are Hispanic Americans. To educate these…

This program guide identifies primary considerations in the organization, operation, and evaluation of a laser electro-optic technology program. An occupational description and program content are presented. A curriculum framework specifies the exact course title, course number, levels of instruction, major course content, laboratory activities,…

Cutscores for certifying competence on the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) have been raised three times since the test was implemented in 1982. In 1989, a study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to challenge the contention that a vast majority of students taking the CLAST under the largest and most recent jump in…

This document presents Florida's application for continued funding of its project for the education of homeless students under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The report is divided into four sections. Section I, "Application," consists of the request and rationale for continued financial support, and a summary of actions…

Data presented on the State University System (SUS) of Florida are presented in the form of tabular displays, charts, graphs, and a glossary. Preliminary sections list members of the State Board of Education and the Florida Board of Regents, provide a description of the State University System of Florida, and list measures used for reporting…