Presents six ideas to improve public libraries' summer reading programs. Highlights include creating Web sites; marketing directly to parents rather than to schools through direct mail and collaborative promotion; statewide cooperative programs; the use of teen volunteers; scratch-off game cards; and off-site programs. (LRW)

Traces the evolution of the state geography standards in Rhode Island and gives a summary of the work accomplished thus far toward implementing the National Geography Standards. Profiles several state and local initiatives and discusses the Standards that they represent. (MJP)

The Massachusetts college tuition prepayment program has been praised by many as helping families pay for college, but a few elite institutions have not joined, saying the program does not fit their financial aid policies and philosophies. Supporters feel the program could be even stronger if they joined. The plan differs from most state plans by…

Author (Kentucky governor) describes new educational reform policy objectives. Emphasizes decentralization and outcome-based educational model. Describes 1989 court mandate for comprehensive school restructuring. Describes state's educational reform process, new goals, procedures, and programs. Examines court's role in education reform process and…

Describes the Kansas Interlibrary Communications Network (KICNET), a private electronic mail wide-area network (WAN) administered by the Kansas State Library that was developed to transmit interlibrary loan requests for high school, public, academic, and community college libraries. Topics discussed include software, costs for software and…

A national competition for the design of model programs to help more minorities graduate from four-year colleges and universities has resulted in grants to Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, Ohio, New York, and Tennessee. State plans to develop articulation, transfer, computerized tracking, cooperatives, and financial incentives…

The Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration is a statewide technical assistance project to assist school and related-services personnel in Maryland to manage the specialized health needs of students with developmental disabilities and handicapping conditions within the educational setting. The project's purpose, scope, staffing,…

New Jersey and Washington have developed novel and different approaches to supporting faculty development by bringing faculty members, including many senior members, together to work on revitalizing the teaching experience. The program models are described, and the reasons they have been effective are explored. (Author/MSE)

Summarizes interviews with 60 Indiana superintendents and principals concerning the effects of statewide student achievement testing on the operation of schools or school systems. It describes side effects from the testing, noting they are so numerous and severe they may be worse than the problems they are supposed to cure. (SM)

As prices for library materials rise and budgets shrink, cooperative collection development is becoming increasingly important. In light of the necessity for resource sharing, libraries are being forced to balance issues of access for local users vs. access to other libraries. OhioLINK is described as a model for cooperative collection…

Discusses the development of computing networks for elementary and secondary schools in Virginia and Texas. Highlights include establishing a statewide infrastructure; Internet access; distributed computing; instructional resources; the changing role of State Departments of Education; teacher training and support; and policy issues, including…

Describes how library administrators can create awareness of the disabled as capable staff and patrons and help staff develop positive attitudes toward the disabled. Suggestions include use of existing programs to promote awareness; sensitivity training; use of appropriate terminology for the disabled; and the need for ongoing efforts. (three…

Describes Telecommunications Opportunities for Gifted Learners (TOGL), a state-funded project in Florida that links gifted programs in rural districts. The use of electronic mail and computer conferences is described; teacher education and training needs are discussed; and an example of a lesson plan that integrates online activities is given.…

Provides a picture essay of the history of the Ohio River. Describes paintings and photographs displayed on the "Always a River" barge, a joint state humanities council project focusing on the Ohio River. Explains relationships between art works, artists, and historical change along the river. (CH)

This theme issue discusses the Illinois Library and Information Network (ILLINET). Topics addressed include network components, the interlibrary loan code, the resource sharing union catalog, the OCLC users' group, OCLC's EPIC service, access to indexing services, SILO (Serials of Illinois Libraries Online) members, and excerpts from the…