The National Institute of Education's hearings on minimum competency testing sought to educate the public about both sides of the issue. This article summarizes the ground rules for the hearings and the five points of inquiry debated. (WD)

Just five years ago the National Diffusion Network seemed moribund, but it has survived to become the most important force in staff development of teachers nationwide. (Author)

The New Jersey State Board of Education has adopted revised regulations mandating the teaching of family life education in all New Jersey schools by September, 1983. This article discusses the revisions and the controversy surrounding the mandate, especially its provisions for sex education. (SJL)

This program involves setting up training teams in state agencies of the region linking regional trainers at Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs with selected Department of Rehabilitative Services agency staff. It may solve the problem of reaching large audiences with sophisticated training levels. (Author)

This article describes the philosophy, organization, and funding of the New Jersey State Teen Arts Program, a statewide model arts-in-education project which offers all New Jersey teenagers a chance to meet working artists and to actively participate in an interdisciplinary arts experience through annual state and county festivals. (SJL)

Outlines progressive stages of the "Special Studies" developmental education program in the University of Georgia system. Illustrates the process by which prospective freshmen are identified as developmental students, placed in appropriate courses, and advanced to regular college credit classes. (DR)

The article discusses the implementation of services to gifted and talented (G/T) public School students in Ohio including a schedule for establishing the program, definition of G/T, use of pre-existing resources in the schools, establishment of 10 task force groups, and community support. (PHR)

Reports on a statewide pilot project which compared testing using paper-and-pencil and Internet-delivered test items. Participants were students from 14 Pennsylvania vocational-technical institutions. Describes the structured use, what teachers should know and insight from the project. Demonstrates that the Internet offers a viable cost-effective…

Examines how the child support enforcement program in Alaska has responded to the challenges of distance, weather, and cultural differences through training representatives, making waiting areas more comfortable, conducting random customer evaluation of services, establishing travel hubs in regional offices and meeting with community leaders and…

The California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) was developed in 1991 to align the state's testing system to curriculum content and improve measurement of student, school, and district performance. CLAS was discontinued because of tension between political and technical factors, key stakeholders' divergent priorities and goals, and virulent…

Rhododendron Girls' State, a 5-day West Virginia citizenship and leadership program, offers female high school students the opportunity to directly experience the campaign and electoral process. Katie McGee White discusses her experiences as the first Girls' State governor in 1941, her love of politics, and how she encouraged her students to be…

Based on studies that detailed the benefits of quality early childhood education, the Alabama Pre-Kindergarten Initiative provides young children with enriching learning experiences to ensure that they will be ready to succeed in school. These experiences are critical for low-income children in economically distressed Appalachian counties.…

Describes how, with the stock market falling and tuitions at public colleges rising, states' prepaid tuition plans face potential difficulty in paying out their contracts. (EV)

Describes North Carolina's efforts to develop a school readiness definition and assessment plan, focusing on differentiating readiness from eligibility and giving equal weight to schools' capacity to educate all children. Presents selected findings from the statewide assessment. Describes dilemmas faced by the state and their resolutions.…

Describes South Carolina's new state early childhood program, First Steps to School Readiness. Includes a profile of the state's at-risk child population, noting poverty and education risk indicators, and describing key program components. The article discusses program oversight, local program partnerships, program funding mechanisms, and local…