This report, intended for local and state policy makers and practitioners, summarizes the findings and implications of class-size reduction (CSR) in California. The report's findings provide a comprehensive picture of California's CSR initiative during its first 2 years, covering such topics as implementation, resources, teacher qualifications,…

Presents essential elements and reviews the concept of client-centered planning as an approach to program development for continuing education in public health. Client-centered planning is aimed at the identification of individual practitioner needs and the development of educational interventions tailored to improve competency in selected areas.…

Urges accurate assessment of program implementation and the determination of student performance in areas not measured by achievement tests. Offers indicators of hard-to-measure levels of achievement in teachers and students, as they have been developed in the Johnson City, New York, Public Schools' mastery learning approach. (JW)

Explains and differentiates among several types of needs assessment, recommends one type, the external needs assessment, and presents the steps for implementing this and other types of needs assessments. (Author/CHC)

The evaluation revealed that most of the Disadvantaged Schools Program's initiatives reflected the guidelines provided and that, in many instances, several imaginative and well-planned programs were undertaken. However, the objective of involving the community was found to be less well-attained. (Author/IRT)

Describes the implementation of Te Whaariki, the New Zealand National Early Childhood Curriculum. Found that general support for the curriculum is high but that current regulations and funding make it difficult for centers to meet the quality expectations. Several training institutions have begun using Te Whaariki as a framework, and evaluation…

Reviews the OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) school inspection system, based on interviews with 37 teachers at 6 Welsh secondary schools. Inspections emphasize judgment at the expense of advice and can be unnecessarily stressful. The process could be improved by giving shorter periods of notice, reducing required documentation, providing…

Rural Underpinnings for Resiliency and Linkages (RURAL) is an example of a Safe Schools/Healthy Students project. Using a public health approach to increase school safety and promote healthy behaviors, RURAL introduced strategies designed to provide universal prevention for the school population, early intervention for at-risk children and…

The first-year global evaluations of the eight design implementations in Memphis, Tennessee, are based on syntheses of data from multiple sources. Common strengths included revitalized schools and initiation of new school organizations and teaching strategies. Common concerns include the need for more focused training, teacher collaboration time,…

Nationwide dissemination of the Iowa Chautauqua Model for inservice professional development of K-12 science teachers has led to new professional development programs in many states. Discusses a formative evaluation of the implementation of the Collier Chautauqua Program (CCP) which focuses on teacher enhancement resulting from participation in…

Presents information on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs. The model supports the school's overall mission by promoting academic achievement, career planning and personal/social development. It serves as a framework to guide states, districts and individual schools in…

Educators' efforts to employ quality management (QM) and strategic planning (SP) processes often fail because they plan incompletely; view QM and SP as distinct, parallel efforts; or fail to establish systemic responsibility for desired changes. This article introduces a four-phase framework that integrates strategic planning and quality…

Evaluation of a nursing practicum designed to involve students in a meaningful research experience in a limited period of time showed its contribution to increasing knowledge in selected areas and changing attitudes in undergraduates. (Author/JOW)

After a definition of tech prep was formed through concept mapping, 450 stakeholders in Illinois tech prep (6 state staff, 16 employers, 35 postsecondary educators, 99 secondary educators) identified key themes/priorities: outcomes assessment, planning and support, external involvement, articulation/integration, benefits, enrollment incentives,…

Asserts that a large part of the labor pool from which businesses draw employees is poorly educated. Suggests that a good way to get help is to create strategic alliances with government agencies and private organizations. Presents examples of an alliance that was formed to address labor deficiencies in South Carolina. (JOW)