This is the sixth annual evaluation report of the South Carolina Advisory Council on Vocational and Technical Education. Information is provided about program growth in terms of enrollment figures, changes in enrollment from 1973-74 to 1974-75, and number and types of programs. The State goals for vocational and technical education are presented,…

This document describes "lifetime sports" education in Pennsylvania. "Lifetime sports" is defined as individual and dual sports that increase energy expenditure and contribute to personal fitness so that people can safely pursue them throughout their life. The historical background is given for the specific program in…

Describes the evolution of the Virginia Career Information Delivery System, Virginia VIEW (Vital Information for Education and Work), from 1979 to 1987. Plans include a systemwide evaluation, career tabloid, and conversion from microfiche to a hard disk microcomputer. (JOW)

Problems encountered during the implementation of a statewide educational accountability plan in Mississippi are typical of those reported in the literature. This article reviews the development of the plan, the direction of implementation process has taken, and proposals for the future. (PGD)

Describes the Florida Community College Brain Bowl, as a model for recognizing outstanding academic achievement, in a contest in which two competing community college teams answer faculty-prepared questions from various disciplines. (DMM)

The excellence goal of the Closing the Gaps by 2015 plan developed for higher education in Texas is hard to define and quantify clearly. However, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and institutional representatives have developed a starting point to reassess areas of national recognition required to meet the goal. The excellence goal…

A new teacher appraisal process involving 5 competencies and 163 indicators has been devised by the Provincial Government of Ontario, Canada. Principals are being held responsible for the appraisals, and the competencies and indicators are being imposed on professional practice. This paper suggests that a better approach to professional growth…

This report presents data on Missouri's public system of higher education and, in some cases, for the combined public and independent colleges and universities. Missouri has 31 public two- and four-year college campuses, 25 independent institutions, 1 state-designated technical college, and more than 120 proprietary schools. The report is divided…

This publication provides tables containing key Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policies for each state as of July 1999, plus longitudinal tables describing a subset of states' policies from 1996-99. Tables are based on information in the Welfare Rules Database (WRD). The WRD was developed in response to the increasing difficulty…

This overview of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests is designed to help schools implement the Massachusetts"Curriculum Frameworks." For this fourth administration of the MCAS tests in 2001, the design of the tests remains essentially the same, but there are some changes highlighted in this overview. The first…

This paper focuses on the initial phase of a curriculum mapping program as part of the development of a state-mandated school improvement plan. Mapping, a system of curriculum analysis and subsequent alignment, has been cited as a valuable component of curriculum renewal and staff development that has positive impacts on student achievement and…

Under a legislative mandate, the Maryland Higher Education Commission is required to update the State Plan for Postsecondary Education every 2 years. This is the first update of the State Plan. This update is not a new plan, but a reflective report on the progress made and the new issues that have arisen since the State Plan was approved in June…

This issue brief presents an overview of the teacher shortage problem nationwide, examining incentive programs that states have developed in response. It details the serious shortcomings that can be found in these approaches, examining state-level data collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on a survey administered to the…

An Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax reduction and a wage supplement for low- and moderate-income working families. The federal government administers an EITC through the income tax, as do some states. States that enact EITCs can reduce child poverty, support welfare-to-work efforts, and cut taxes for families struggling to make ends meet.…

Assessment and evaluation can be important tools in improving the effectiveness and quality of programs, especially criminal justice programs, if they are integrated into the plans and designs of strategies instead of being added later. An evaluation systems approach to program development is needed to ensure that effectiveness and efficiency are…