The state administrative agency in public sector labor relations acts as an impartial third party, administering legislation concerning public sector labor relations. When a dispute arises about any aspect of the labor-management relationship covered by law, the administrative agency steps in to resolve the dispute in a fair and impartial way. The…

The 12 states comprising the North Central Region have been affected in similar ways by the farm crisis of the 1980s. Statewide surveys show sizeable proportions of farm operations that are experiencing moderately high levels of financial stress. The problems caused by chronic stress on family structure and functioning, the loss of mainstreet…

This booklet for Wisconsin parents of children with disabilities discusses the processes and functions of special education. It describes steps in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team process, including: referring a child for special education; evaluating the child; deciding what services are needed and writing the IEP; deciding where…

A Wisconsin advocacy model for gifted education programs is presented, emphasizing ongoing collaboration and dissemination to most effectively utilize meager resources. Essential elements of the dissemination design are identified, including use of regional sites, requiring participation of an administrator on the team, group problem solving, and…

Increased violence in schools, represented by possession of weapons, sexual or racial harassment, bullying, verbal intimidation, gang or cult activity, arson, or corporal punishment of students, for example, is a growing concern among students, educators, and communities. Since educators alone cannot ensure safety in schools, collaboration among…

This guide is intended to assist Wisconsin school districts in accessing the health care financing system as a means of supporting specialized services. Topics covered include: determination of a local education agency's potential for third-party covered services; the need to become a certified provider dependent upon the funding source;…

The 13 leading mathematics educators who made up the task force that prepared this report were thoroughly acquainted with every major report on math education produced within the last decade. They were also thoroughly acquainted with the realities of instruction in the K-12 classrooms. Their aim, therefore, was to make appropriate compromises…

This guide, the first volume in a 12-part series produced by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, is an overview of the planning process for curriculum development in all subject areas. It explores ways to review, revise, create, and evaluate curricula, along with sample plans and organizational patterns that encourage staff…

Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, in collaboration with Wisconsin citizens, developed academic standards in 12 curricular areas. The health education standards go beyond emphasizing mastery of individual student areas--they weave four essential characteristics of health-literate individuals throughout: critical thinking and problem…

Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, in collaboration with Wisconsin citizens, developed academic standards in 12 curricular areas. The physical education standards go beyond emphasizing mastery of individual student areas--they weave five essential characteristics of literate individuals throughout: application of the basics, ability to…

This document contains 88 authentic task development records that were selected from those developed by teams of secondary and postsecondary teachers at a conference to familiarize educators with Wisconsin's new performance-based assessment system. Presented first is an annotated list of the 17 Wisconsin Learner Outcomes that served as the…

This handbook summarizes current legal doctrine, state statutes, and federal and state regulations regarding the treatment of public school pupils in Wisconsin. It reports on court decisions that are binding in Wisconsin and those from other courts around the country that illustrate how pupil issues have been handled in other jurisdictions. After…

This instructional manual presents work experience program coordinators with special methods, competencies, and strategies for organization, implementation, and evaluation. The manual contains 13 sections: (1) assessing program potential; (2) philosophy development; (3) initial organizational steps; (4) student selection process; (5) job…