This report summarizes the proceedings of an Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) sponsored meeting. The discussion and followup papers address issues related to disseminating promising and exemplary programs in conjunction with OERI's responsibilities to plan a system of expert panels. Section 1 of the report includes the minutes…

Improving Foreign Language Education at Community Colleges, a project from the American Association of Community Colleges (Washington, D.C.), is described in this report as an effort to advance the quality and extent of foreign language education at community colleges across the nation. The project provides a combination of resources for selected…

This report by the American Association of Community Colleges summarizes the results of a nationwide year-long study on foreign language education. Programs, called Improving Foreign Language Education projects at Community Colleges, were implemented at a total of 36 American colleges to enact proposed changes in curriculum and foreign language…

This report examines whether Head Start and Even Start are substantially similar in key areas. At the request of a congressional subcommittee, the Government Accounting Office determined: (1) how similar the programs are in legal requirements and administration and the extent to which they have similar purposes, performance goals, and indicators;…

Recognizing that violent behavior is a complex phenomenon that is manifested in many different ways, the focus of this paper is to inform the development and implementation of school-based violence prevention strategies. The Second Step Program of the Jefferson County Public Schools is highlighted as an example of a successful violence prevention…

How implementation of the middle schools concept affects student attainment of the purposes of middle grades education was studied in Georgia. Focuses were on academic achievement, the cost effectiveness of the Middle School Program, and any modifications needed to improve middle grades education. This study finds that students who attend schools…

This evaluative study looks at the Kampala (Uganda) Schools' Improvement Project (SIP). The purpose of the project, which lasted from 1994 to 1997, was to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Kampala primary schools by promoting and then institutionalizing the adoption of child-centered teaching methods and resources in project schools.…

This report summarizes statewide findings about Maine's Reading Recovery (RR) program based on data from the 1996-97 school year. The information presented in the report includes a brief history of the program in Maine, school-level implementation of the program, demographic information about the children served, the amount of time children spent…

This study examines courses in the marketing program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to compare the academic performance of students in traditional and learning community classroom settings. Two sections of students, a traditional 17-week course and a block scheduled 5-week course, served as the sample in the study. The block scheduling…

This report examines the current position in Scottish further education colleges regarding professional development for those staff whose roles include teaching and the management of teaching and learning. The report: (1) identifies general categories of professional development in which it is appropriate for these staff to participate; (2)…

Uses previous implementation studies to investigate the process of local implementation of federal educational policy since 1965. Examines assumptions underlying federal educational policies; suggests different ways of thinking about the federal role in education; and maintains that effective implementation of federal educational programs requires…

Describes new curriculum developments, supervisory strategies, and management techniques that were found to have improved educational outcomes in 16 urban school systems. (GC)

Two elementary schools were studied over two years of a schoolwide program to improve service delivery to students with behavior problems. Program components included an advisory committee, schoolwide organizational practices, schoolwide classroom management intervention, and individual behavioral interventions. Target students displayed improved…

Issues involved in preventing child sexual abuse and findings on the nature of sexual abuse prevention programs for children are presented. Empirical research on the effectiveness of these programs is examined, and the significance of unintended consequences of the programs is addressed. Program development and implementation are considered. (SLD)

Describes difficulties faced by faculty and administrators at Kentucky's Jefferson Community College in implementing the college's general education program. Highlights issues related to ensuring teaching competency, assessing the program's effects, and maintaining a balance between fidelity to the ideas of general education and accountability for…