Among issues uncovered were that some professionals were not convinced of the need for free public school services for early childhood handicapped children, there is a need for leadership, there is a large information gap, and there is a great need for coordinated pre- and inservice training. (CL)

Describes trends in the minimal competency movement in Florida and several other states and speculates about future trends in minimum-competency testing. (DD)

The gifted education movement in California is traced, and the efforts of the California Association for Gifted (a parent group) to save the California gifted program are reviewed. It is pointed out that the strongest component of California's successes in developing gifted/talented education legislation has been parent support. (SW)

Reports are given on the use of computers in elementary and secondary schools in five states. An analysis of the reports discusses various educational trends and implications evolving from computer use, including misapplied technology and the proper amount of learning and teaching via computers. (CJ)

This summary of educational computing activities for each state (excluding Colorado, whose information was not available), provides the numbers of districts, students, and computers in each. New activities involving computers and other forms of technology are briefly described as well as future plans. (LRW)

Based on data obtained from the state supervisors of foreign languages by the Joint National Committee for Languages, this brief report lists the threats that jeopardize the status of language programs in the United States. These include: budget constraints; the possibility of further minimizing the federal role in education; reversing the…

This report reviews the national educational reform movement of the 1980's, with particular attention directed to seven states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. The first chapter provides background information on the educational reform movement. The second chapter focuses on the reform activities…

The paper reports findings of a 4 year investigation of changes that have taken place across the country with regard to the education of gifted and talented children. Data were obtained on an annual basis from direct informational questionnaires sent to individual state consultants for the gifted and talented. The investigation was constructed and…

The director of the Office of Staff Development of the California State Department of Education briefly reviews research on principals' and teachers' changing needs for in-service training and current California efforts in staff development, including the role of his own office. A list of office publications is appended. (SJL)

This article cites some of the objectives for global education advocated by national organizations, professional associations, state departments of education, and other groups which have become involved in the field. A widely circulated list concerning student competencies that schools should seek to instill for good citizenship in a global age is…

This report analyzes policy trends in gifted education in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut from 1984 through 1994. The decrease in state funding of gifted education during this period is investigated, along with the rise of private and university gifted programs. Findings from the analysis indicated that gifted students possess few of the…

An overview is presented of the California Mentor Teacher Program (signed into law in July, 1983) and the related issues of merit pay and master teachers. The operation of the Mentor Teacher Program, the first statewide program of its kind, is briefly described. The program is said to be an outgrowth of the merit pay and master teacher movements;…

This article provides a legal update on the issue of residential placements for students with disabilities and discusses practice considerations in light of national trends toward greater integration and curbing of rising costs through providing incentives for community-based programs. Practices in Virginia are used as an example. (DB)

Diverse low-cost, innovative, and successful state initiatives for school improvement have been developed over the last five years. Generated by public pressures for accountability, many states' increased capacity for policy analysis, and insights gained during 15 years of administering categorical grant programs, the initiatives include: programs…

Supporters of alternative certification (AC) claim these programs can help to recruit minority and male teachers and to attract talented individuals with subject-area expertise in areas such as math, science, and foreign languages. Opponents claim that AC can undermine teacher professionalism and that it does and that it does not provide the…