Describes lessons learned from a five-year comprehensive model evaluation program developed by school systems in Minnesota and Iowa. The learner's experience was planned through instructional and curriculum strategies. Performance criteria were established for teachers, and principals and students evaluated classrooms. Pre- and post-testing…

Three review formats are enclosed in this publication, along with two basic service checklists and a comprehensive program review guide. These formats were developed to serve as tools to be used locally by school district personnel and Boards of Education in the development of quality policies and procedures to serve homeless children and youth.…

The 13 readings in this book offer guidelines for designing and developing programs for gifted students. An introductory chapter by the editor considers the benefits of special programs for gifted students and the challenges of their development. The following chapters are: (1) "From Needs and Goals to Program Organization: A Nuts-and-Bolts Guide"…

MDRC's Opening Doors to Earning Credentials Project and its early reports found that community colleges are the local educational institutions with the greatest potential for helping low-wage workers earn skills and credentials that lead to educational and career advancement. Opening Doors also identified serious obstacles to realizing that…

This 12-section handbook, based on information for Colorado but applicable to other states as well, contains resources and lists and explains procedures to establish or expand a career guidance center in a school, government office, or organization. The 12 sections cover the following topics: (1) purpose and philosophy; (2) assessment, advisory…

Drawing from Public/Private Ventures (P/PV's) five years of hands-on experience designing and implementing Amachi programs around the country, "Building From The Ground Up" describes best practices for planning, developing and managing a mentoring-children-of-prisoners program. This guidebook is essential for learning the professional procedures,…

This book is designed to help teachers, teacher-librarians, administrators, and district staff create a literature program that integrates literature within the context of resource-based learning. The book is organized into three sections. Part 1: "Critical Components of Learning through Literature" discusses in detail how each of the…

Improving reading instruction has been the primary focus at the Benchmark School in Media, Pennsylvania. This book describes the various phases of Benchmark's development of a program to create strategic learners, thinkers, and problem solvers across the curriculum. The goal is to provide teachers and administrators with a handbook that can be…

The Peace Corps Programming and Training System (PATS) manual is designed to help field staff members of the Peace Corps train volunteers. This supplement to the PATS manual was developed to provide complementary information about key aspects of Peace Corps programming and training for youth development. It is intended for individuals involved in…

One of a series of guides on implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this guide focuses on the relevance of total quality management (TQM) principles to the ADA. First, the guide briefly explains both the ADA and TQM. Next, "reasonable accommodation" under the ADA is discussed and suggestions for using TQM to help…

The goals of the five chapters in this guide are to help both new and experienced educators develop as reflective practitioners and to integrate a mentoring program into the fabric of a school's community. The first chapter discusses adult learning and development, reflective practice, change, and diversity. The second chapter presents an overview…

This guide to cooperative teaching provides field-tested ideas and strategies using an organizational analogy of a home remodeling project. Chapters address the following topics: (1) recent changes in the nations schools and an overview of collaboration in the contemporary educational system; (2) different approaches to collaboration, including…

This guide describes step-by-step the decisions necessary for designing a curriculum for learning world languages. There are eight chapters in four parts. Part 1, "Creating Curriculum," includes: (1) "Introduction to Wisconsin's Standards for Learning World Languages" (e.g., the vision of Wisconsin's standards); (2)…

This book is a guide to educating and nurturing children with mathematical talent. Chapter 1 presents and refutes 12 myths about mathematically talented students, especially the idea that it is best not to deviate from regular programming. The second chapter is a guide for parents in their efforts to advocate for their child in the regular school…

This guide is designed to provide practical information for community leaders, local Workforce Investment Boards, Youth Councils, staff, and others committed to effective youth and workforce development. Its four sections provide technical assistance and training materials for Youth Councils. Chapter 1, "Planning the Menu," defines youth…