Reveals that 250,000 refugee children have entered U.S. schools since 1975 and that a significant proportion attend Catholic schools. Provides information on the Transition Program for Refugee Children, suggests ways Catholic schools can obtain TPRC funding, summarizes reports on the program's effectiveness, and lists state coordinators for…

Describes an interdisciplinary research effort being undertaken by the University of Dayton (Ohio) to identify successful diocesan models of educational collaboration, focusing on San Jose, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Covington, Kentucky; Toledo, Ohio; and Erie, Pennsylvania. (DMM)

Describes EBIS (Education Board Inservice Series), a year-long series of monthly training sessions for Catholic parish leaders and Catholic school board members in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area. (Author/SJL)

The Religious Education Outcomes Inventory includes two components: 1) the religious knowledge level reporting both individual and class profiles, and 2) the confidential attitude measure which links religious knowledge with attitudes and practices. The program's main use is to help local staffs monitor the effectiveness of their religious…

Describes TheaterVision, a series of live professional performances for children. Indicates that TheaterVision is offered by the Franciscan Center in Ohio, a community organization that provides arts programs to students from more than 40 school districts. Argues that art education is a way to teach children important skills. (AJL)

Discusses the importance of the Music Educators Division of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, which provides Catholic music educators with support. Describes the increased academic status given to music due to 1994's Goals 2000: Educate America Act, which mandated that music and other arts be regarded as core subjects. (AJL)

Describes the positive impact of teachers who are part of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), in which college graduates volunteer to teach at Catholic schools. Argues that ACE's success is due to the enthusiasm and creativity of its teachers. Indicates that ACE is now an international program. (AJL)

Describes the goals of assessment in early childhood education programs, suggesting that assessment plans should focus on knowledge, skills, dispositions, and feelings. Argues that the younger children are, the more errors are made in assessment, and that efforts should therefore balance global and specific assessments. Suggests assessment…

Discusses the possible benefits of the Goals 2000 program for Catholic school teachers and students. Indicates that, although Catholic schools are ineligible for Goals 2000 funding, they may benefit from the information availability, coalition building, and professional development opportunities. Suggests that Goals 2000 offers Catholic educators…

Describes the success of the Academy of Holy Angels' Theater School, which has earned the reputation of producing quality original productions. Discusses aspects of the theater program, including a discussion of the required courses and the ways in which plays are scheduled. Describes the plays that have been produced. (AJL)

Provides a point/counterpoint investigation into appropriateness of character education as a function of public schools. Lickona describes the implementation and success of various character education curricula across the country, while Skillen suggests that public schools may not be sufficiently pluralistic in their approach to support such…

Presents findings from the International Society for Technology in Education's "Vision: TEST" study, revealing that access to technology facilitates learning, especially among at-risk students. Compares "factory" and "individual" paradigms for education. Offers three examples of the use of technology with at-risk students. Discusses the economic…

Describes the development of the arts program at Sacred Heart/Mt. Carmel School for the Arts, in New York, and its effectiveness in increasing enthusiasm about education. Discusses the integration of art into the curriculum, and suggests using an annual theme to tie together the arts and other subjects. (AJL)

Describes the success of Capital Partners for Education (CPE), a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk students by providing them with scholarships and mentors, who are mostly urban professionals. CPE targets average students who are failing or likely to drop out. Discusses CPE's activities and its expansion to provide year-round support. (AJL)

Outlines a model program for rewarding excellence, primarily in a Catholic elementary school that has discretionary funds for rewards and recognition, though it may be adapted for any school. Presents a monthly award system that utilizes Catholic culture and permeates the entire school year. Cites Disney program as a model. (NB)