The first of three reports on a North Carolina project to help counties plan community based status offender programs describes a statewide needs assessment to collect information about the needs of status offenders and youth at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. A questionnaire covered situational and behavioral problems experienced…

The Duke University School Research Partnership (SRP) Office was developed with support from the Office of the Provost and the Center for Child and Family Policy. Begun in 2006 as the Duke Office for Research in Schools (DORIS), the SRP Office is an integral part of the work of the Center for Child and Family Policy. The SRP Office facilitates…

The second of three documents of a project designed to help North Carolina counties plan community based status offender programs presents a general planning model. An overview traces five steps of the planning decision process, from determining the importance of status offender needs to the county to making program funding decisions based on…

The 11 North Carolina group homes serving persons with autism are described. Discussed are such aspects as cost effectiveness, staff selection and training, level of structure and programing, composition of the client group, adherence to a central philosophy, and the role of administration. (Author/DB)

The third and final volume of a project designed to help North Carolina counties plan community based facilities for status offenders describes an approach to evaluating existing programs and proposed new ones. Instructions are given for collection of data on service resources through completion of worksheets specifying information on such topics…

Preparing students in the early childhood field to work with children both with and without disabilities and to collaborate with different professionals is an important endeavor for colleges and universities. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a unique model of program collaboration between early childhood special education and early…

Demonstrating the way in which the National Diffusion Network (a system set up to disseminate exemplary educational practices) operates, this article describes application of an Illinois-developed early childhood program to the needs of a rurally isolated county in North Carolina. (JC)

Governors recognize that promoting school readiness is a key strategy for preventing school failure and subsequent costs to society in the form of remedial education services, health and social services, criminal justice services, and lost tax revenue. Supporting the readiness of young children at risk for school failure is critical to the…

The manual addresses elements needed to provide an appropriate education for gifted students in North Carolina. Eleven components are considered: administrative support and responsibility (program design, utilization of resources); definition and identification (screening); assessment of student needs (group and individual needs); written plans…

This document provides the state of North Carolina with a blueprint for program development, training, and research in the area of child abuse prevention intended to strengthen community programs and families statewide. The problem of child abuse is presented in the first section of the report. The next section identifies barriers which may be…

This is a report of the planning and development of environmental education programs in North Carolina. Areas discussed are the need for cooperative planning, goals and objectives, and existing programs in scientific and technical training, in public and professional education, and in public agencies. Limitations are noted and specific…

This article describes an English language arts teacher preparation perspective that considers middle school students as part of the teacher educator team. Based on a recognized gap in the literature about students as powerful partners, the authors undertook a 3-year study to explore the question, "What do preservice middle school teachers…

Eight teams of elementary and middle school teachers developed pilot online courses for the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) in the USA. A qualitative case study with focus groups and a follow-up survey helped to identify common needs of these non-traditional course designers during course development efforts. Findings suggest virtual…

T.E.A.C.H., which stands for Teacher Education And Compensation Helps, began in 1990 in North Carolina. What began as a small pilot project, offering scholarships to 21 caregivers, has grown into a national movement. Now in 23 states, T.E.A.C.H. addresses the enduring challenges that plaque the early childhood field--high turnover, low…

This manuscript seeks to share the continuous improvement endeavors by the College of Education faculty and administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from initial preparation and planning through their successful national and state accreditation achieved in November 2005. Beginning with the unit's revision of their conceptual…