This booklet reports on a study of food service functions in Texas schools. The report contains examples taken from previous school reviews and is based on the state Comptroller's instruction that the best practices identified by the Texas School Performance Review team be communicated to all the state's school districts. Some examples present…

Proposes that a major constraint of research in child welfare has been the inability to coordinate reforms among various components of foster care reform. Reveals research advances in child welfare that demonstrate effective social work practice and indicate directions for comprehensive foster care reform. (Author)

Presents and explains how to use a checklist for helping principals determine the presence of effective elements in their schools' staff development programs. The checklist process involves testing such program factors as school commitment levels, needs assessment components, program development activities, program implementation and evaluation,…

Discusses the planning and preparation necessary to make field trips economically justifiable and educationally worthwhile. Student orientations and positive motivation are essential for successful fieldtrips. A description of a well-planned field trip to Rockport, Massachusetts, for a high school portfolio art class is included. (AM)

Offers 22 characteristics of a good reading lesson and suggests that administrators keep four things in mind when observing a reading lesson: motivation, clarification, application, and satisfaction. (FL)

Both individualized and large group instruction methods for developing physical strength and tennis skills in competitive players are discussed. (LH)

Suggests that the acronym "SCIENCE" may be used as a guide to evaluating seven factors that should be promoted by a reading program: success, curiosity, interest, enthusiasm, nurture, challenge, and enjoyment. (MKM)

Provides the outdoor adventure educator with a working knowledge of self-esteem to inform practice and allow communication between practitioners. Discusses a practical model of self-esteem, methods of increasing global self-esteem, evidence that adventure increases self-esteem, and relevant guidelines for framing adventure activities. (SV)

This study evaluated a sexual abuse prevention program ("Who Do You Tell?") for elementary grade students with 117 program participants and 114 students in a wait-list control condition. Program participants increased their knowledge of both "inappropriate touch" and "appropriate touch," more than control group children. Age also differentiated…

Discusses using advanced electronic and communication technology to improve organizational innovation. Group creativity techniques, such as electronic brainstorming, PMI (a brainstorming approach involving plus, minus, and interesting points), synectics, and their verbal counterparts are compared. Electronic PMI and synectics are found to be…

Highlights one strategy to improve health promotion delivery and generate better outcomes by creating "Microcultures of Meaning" (MOMs), which are intended to provide a context to help people learn and take action. The issue introduces key theoretical concepts associated with the MOM methodology, describes the scientific rationale, discusses…

Argues that an increased federal government emphasis on accountability will have a great impact on reading teachers in the 1990s. Explains the changes brought about by the Hawkins-Stafford Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Amendments of 1988. Explores the possibilities for responding to a strengthened federal focus on accountability.…

Outlines characteristics of effective technology-based distance-learning programs that meet specific local needs, incorporate current educational theory and practice, and satisfy the social and emotional needs of the students. Presents guidelines for program development in rural schools. (SV)

An institutional research model used at Washington University is outlined and other practical suggestions are offered to financial aid administrators inclined to conduct similar research. The original study assessed the effects of loans on students after leaving school. (MSE)

College and university public relations professionals are encouraged to follow the example of business in managing their publications programs. Planning, marketing those plans to the campus community, involving administration, and assuming accountability are seen as key elements in publications program success. (MSE)