The theme of this issue of the quarterly journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is the system of early childhood education in the United States, focusing on various challenges to making high-quality preschool education a reality for all children. The following articles are featured: (1) "Principles and…

This paper examines the conditions of university/districtwide partnering that can aid systemic public education change. It introduces a university/school partnership known as the Triple "L" (Lifelong Learning and Leadership) Collaborative. The text details shared responsibility, shared accountability, alignment of teacher-performance standards,…

A national adult literacy program was established in Nicaragua in 1979, after the Sandanista revolution, as part of a plan for socio-economic development. Program development, implementation and evaluation methods, curriculum content, educational methodology, and teacher training methods are described. (AM)

As part of the national plan for socio-economic development, the Indonesian adult literacy program established cooperative, informal learning groups in which a literate person was responsible for teaching 10 others to read. Program organization, curriculum development, and evaluation methods are described. (AM)

A recent community-oriented, evening education project for illiterate children residing in the rural Pune district of India is described and evaluated. Discussed are project organizations, requirement and training of staff, curriculum content, classroom equipment, course materials, and literacy results. (JA)

Educators at all levels are questioning and probing "what is" versus "what should be" to determine how best to respond to widespread diffusion/adoption of microcomputer technology. A description is given of low-cost statewide workshops to prepare teachers to confront this situation and of the excellent results achieved. (JN)

Identifies and elaborates several programs in British Columbia which have been designed to strengthen the family. The programs are evaluated to assess their impact on family health. Some forces in education which have affected the family-school partnership are also analyzed. (JAC)

Commanding English is a University of Minnesota program of communications skills courses packaged into an integrated whole that enables students whose native language is not English to develop the skills to function as competently as native speakers. Upon completing the program, students transfer into mainstream programs throughout the university.…

Reports on a study that evaluated the effectiveness of Project Follow Through programs on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Reveals continued improvement in reading achievement scores at all grade levels studied. (FL)

Describes and evaluates efforts by North Carolina to assist school personnel in using computers and computer assisted instruction. Discusses a general statewide conference, eight follow-up hands-on regional workshops, follow-up application conferences, specialized planning sessions, and the implementation of a state coordinating project. (DC)

Reviews some of the uses of the phone in crisis situations and describes a popular toll-free career information hotline in Virginia. Provides a profile of the mostly adult users along with a user evaluation of the service. (Author)

Evaluated an experimental volunteer summer program designed to increase the success rate of conditionally accepted college students. Collected information about student characteristics and aspirations and follow-up data regarding retention and academic success of student participants. Results indicated increased student understanding of goals and…

Studied the effect of gaming as an approach to reducing employee absenteeism. A longitudinal study in a small manufacturing plant, showed significant improvement in employee attitude and cooperation due to the opportunity for communication. Operant conditioning also resulted in somewhat lower absenteeism and tardiness. (Author/JAC)

Examines a confrontation team-building intervention that was highly successful in building the supervisors into a unified group. Evaluation indicated the team became the most important variable with little consideration given to the rest of the organization, resulting in the whole organization being severely crippled and having to be rebuilt.…

Describes New Student Welcome Day, an orientation program for freshmen at the University of Maine. Outlines objectives of the three-day program, including assisting students' transition to the university, fostering development of a peer group, creating an atmosphere conducive to favorable attitudes, and reducing anxiety. (JAC)