The Texas Commission for the Blind's (TCB's) braille literacy initiative is an agency-based program designed to enhance the braille skills of teaching staff. In addition, TCB has established braille-production stations in 30 of its district offices and offers technical assistance to regional rehabilitation personnel. (Author)

When the 1991 Pennsylvania Legislature decentralized its special education funding process, it created a crisis for the commonwealth's 29 educational regional service agencies. The Chester County Intermediate Unit responded entrepreneurially by downsizing the department; surveying customer satisfaction levels; instituting staff training programs;…

In this paper, we explore the rationale, process and outcomes of the Regional Interoperability Project on Progression for Lifelong Learning, a project that established a model of cross-sector collaboration in personal development planning technology in the UK. With specific reference to the widening participation agenda, and grounded in the…

Currently, all California community college districts are required by state and federal legislation to maintain at least one vocational education local advisory council. The degree of effectiveness and utilization of these councils varies greatly from district to district, as does the frequency of meetings and number of councils within a district.…

The paper outlines a procedure of providing staff development designed to meet the needs of all educational personnel, including teachers, support personnel, administrators, and parents. The role of the Central Ohio Instructional Resource Center in staff development is examined, followed by a discussion of needs assessment methods (such as content…

Texas is divided into 20 regions served by intermediate education agencies offering school districts the opportunity to receive specialized services normally beyond the reach of school systems. This report examines how one such regional educational agency in Region 20, which serves 50 districts in 14 counties, is organized to provide evaluation…

The Appalachia Educational Laboratory's Educational Services Office has sponsored an ongoing external evaluation of its regional exchange program since fiscal year 1979. Findings from this evaluation helped support the decision to adopt a state consultant model strategy for all four of the office's educational programs. The model involves…

The Satellite Technology Demonstration employs the latest telecommunications technology to deliver community oriented programing to rural areas. To meet the demand for contemporary broadcasts responsive to community needs, a studio was constructed in the Denver area to produce and coordinate future programs for the Rocky Mountains area. Problems…

A review of the publications of the six regional accrediting associations is reported and shows that evaluative format varies but that there is a commonly assumed relationship between quality and institutional objectives, educational program, financial resources, faculty, and library/learning center. Assumptions underlying these criteria are…

The needs and expectations of members of the Library Association of Australia are explored in four articles. Highlights include fee requirements, lobbying by the association, the inclusion of information professionals in the membership, the possible role of trade unions, and the distribution of women in leadership positions. (CLB)

Public employers, including school districts, are faced with unionized workers' demanding a larger share of public resources. The formation of regional bargaining associations for employers to counteract union demands is proposed. A case study of a successful association is provided. (MD)

Outlines the present status of library automation and networking in Australia and explores the issues arising when regional network operations consider their relationship to the national Australian Bibliographic Network: provision of services, standards, network technology, contractual arrangements, economics, and policy. Thirty-eight references…

This article describes contributions to Middle Eastern library development by a national body established to facilitate cooperation between professional groups, learned personalities, and intellectuals of Arab countries. Organizational aims, finance, the Department of Documentation and Information, the organization's library, library education,…

A curriculum model for rural social work practice is presented that takes into account rural diversity and the universe of social work practice. Regionalization of preparation and practice, which will allow services to be more broadly distributed, is recommended. (MSE)

Described is a program which brought talented high school juniors to a summer camp where they participated in ceramics and drawing programs. It took place on the Plymouth State College campus where group classes were taught by professionals using an interdisciplinary approach. (KC)