The human brain develops rapidly in the first five years of life. High-quality early learning experiences can have a profound and lasting positive effect on young children during these years, setting the stage for success in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for young children with high needs who are from low-income families; who…

This exploration into competency-based innovation at the school, district, and state levels suggests that competency-based pathways are a re-engineering of this nation's education system around learning--a re-engineering designed for success in which failure is no longer viable. This discussion draws on interviews and site visits with innovators…

The examination of career education preparation needs specifically for teachers in rural or small schools was conducted by teacher education faculty at Eastern Oregon State College and the faculty of a school district in rural northeast Oregon. Imbler School District, which opted for an infusion approach to career education rather than a separate…

This publication reviews the state-of-the-art of competency-based education (CBE) and discusses alternative methods for the development of CBE programs in public school systems. It begins with a discussion of the possible influences of various learning theories on the structure and content of competency-based systems. It then focuses in turn on…

An application for a proposed South Umpqua School District (Oregon) Experimental Schools project is provided. The project will personalize and intensify those instructional processes dealing with basic education and career preparation. The goals of the project are: A. Operational Processes--personalization of instruction, parent/patron…

This publication is basically a catalog that presents summary descriptions of approximately 50 innovative instructional and management practices developed by school districts and other educational organizations in the state of Oregon. Most of the programs listed were developed using federal funds, though several were financed entirely by the state…

"The Achiever" is a monthly publication for parents and community leaders. Each issue contains news and information about school improvement in the United States. Highlights of this issue include: (1) "No Child Left Behind": Key Focus in State of the Union; (2) A Shining Example: Using Mix of Strategies, Stanton Elementary…

The School Planning, Evaluation, and Communication System (SPECS) is an overall design for districtwide program assessment and development. It is both a way of interrelating planning and evaluation of individual programs and a way of comparing the outcomes of all district programs with the district's community-defined educational goals. Component…

The Oregon State Board of Education has rejected the use of cut-off scores on a proficiency test to establish minimum performance standards for high school graduation. Instead, each school district is required to specify--by local board adoption--minimum competencies in reading, writing, listening, speaking, analyzing, and computing. These…

This report is an assessment of the events of the first year of operation of John Adams High School, Portland, Oregon. The primary goal of the school was to provide an educational experience relevant to the needs and interests of all adolescents, regardless of their intentions about pursuing further formal education. The report is oriented toward…

The project was designed to familiarize students, teachers, administrators, parents, board members, and others with the concept of career awareness through personal involvement. Emphasis was placed on the various aspects of assessment, planning, implementation, and continuation of the Awareness Program within the existing curriculum in each school…

This guide sets forth minimum approval criteria for vocational agriculture cluster programs in Oregon. The agriculture cluster program includes instruction in six areas: animal science, soil science, plant science, agricultural economics, agriculture mechanics, and leadership development. The information in the guide is intended for use by…

This guide sets forth minimum approval criteria for service occupations cluster programs in Oregon. The information in the guide is intended for use by district-level curriculum planners, teachers, regional coordinators, or state education department staff involved with new program development or revisions of existing programs. The guide outlines…

This guide sets forth minimum approval criteria for vocational education food service training programs in Oregon. The information in the guide is intended for use by district-level curriculum planners, teachers, regional coordinators, or state education department staff involved with new program development or revisions of existing programs. The…

This guide sets forth minimum approval criteria for marketing/distributive education programs in Oregon. The information in the guide is intended for use by district-level curriculum planners, teachers, regional coordinators, or state education department staff involved with new program development or revisions of existing programs. The guide…