Describes a statewide initiative in Missouri to develop and promote the Advanced Placement program, including establishing AP Teacher Development sites, and statewide encouragement and coordination of the program. Notes that this has resulted in a major turnaround in the AP program in Missouri. (SR)

Discusses the problem of teenage pregnancy in the United States as a major factor in the creation of an American underclass in a cycle of dependency. Describes legislation, programs, and proposals in the state of Missouri which attempt to address this problem. (SR)

The governor of South Carolina provides information about that state's Education Improvement Act of l984 and explains how it brought about educational reform. (FL)

Outlines the objectives, process, and tasks of New York State's school-based comprehensive planning system, implemented to meet accountability demands and budgetary cutbacks. Process diagrams and sample forms are included. (SJL)

Project SCATE (Students Concerned About Tomorrow's Environment) is an action-oriented, interdisciplinary program for secondary students in environmental stewardship. Students participate in both scientific investigations of environmental issues and political processes necessary to implement solutions. (Author/SJL)

Criticizes attempts by states to institute statewide testing programs as a means of improving school accountability. Discusses various examples of how this is being carried out. Presents four recommendations for testing programs. (HB)

Criticizes the efforts by some states to evaluate teaching on a statewide level and reward or punish schools and teachers according to mandated criteria. Argues that such state-mandated appraisal systems do not improve education or the learning of students. Proposes ways that states might improve the quality of schooling. (HB)

Describes developments in the state of South Carolina regarding school assessment and accountability. Outlines the mandates of South Carolina's Accountability Act of 1998 which focuses directly on "school accountability." (SR)

Two years after the implementation of Florida's Educational Accountability Act, which mandates statewide competency testing in reading, writing, and arithmetic, the author cites the advantages of the program, refutes criticisms of it and reviews the challenge to it in Federal District court, the Debra P. V. Turlington case. (SJL)