Outlines steps taken by the University of California San Francisco in achieving partnership with a local urban school district to implement a school-based sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus prevention program. Emphasizes the process of recruiting school districts, health education liaisons, teachers, parents, and students.…

Eight common objections to performance funding of public colleges are presented and answered. The arguments focus on the complexity of higher education's goals, diversity of institution type, subjectivity of educational quality, relative power of the allocation amounts linked to performance measures, politics of resource allocation, cost of…

Describes LANGUAGE, a literacy curriculum for students in middle and high schools, and the teacher retraining that prepares teachers for it. Curriculum components are outlined for a structured approach that incorporates phonemic awareness and whole language aspects. Program evaluations have supported the effectiveness of the curriculum. (SLD)

A study extends recent research on college-faculty research productivity by examining the relationship between research productivity and institutional factors, drawing on recent National Research Council data on research universities and their programs in four broad fields: biological sciences, engineering, physical sciences and mathematics, and…

Content analysis of 56 reports on tropical conservation education programs published between 1975 and 1990 revealed that fewer than half of the programs were successful in achieving their objectives. Use of either formative or long-term evaluations in the program design was correlated with significantly higher rates of program success, as was…

This study evaluated a positive peer-reporting procedure on positive and negative peer interactions, peer acceptance ratings, and the daily problem behaviors of a 15-year-old boy with multiple behavior and social problems. Results suggested the procedure was effective in all three domains. Data collection and use is discussed in terms of a Level…

A study of the Wimmera (Victoria, Australia) Adult Literacy and Basic Education Group (WALBEG) surveyed 30 participants to identify reasons people undertook courses, assess the impact of WALBEG programs on the individual and on the community, and investigate possible use of new learning technologies in future delivery of adult programs. (CDS)

Describes an online distance learning component within an Australian Master's-level science education course which included a weekly online forum and in-person sessions, analyzing students' contributions to the forum, course evaluation forms, and post-course group interviews. Students valued the online component, but many were unskilled in…

Examined the effects of a three-year tobacco education curriculum, which included five lessons per year, on urban elementary students' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions. Pretesting and posttesting of experimental and control students indicated that experimental students' posttest knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher than…

Analysis of focus group discussions involving 13 parents of young children with disabilities and 32 professional service providers examined participants' perceptions of inclusion and early intervention. Discussion focused on awareness of early intervention services, barriers and supports to inclusion, notions of service coordination, experiences…

Compares the academic achievement of students from two Dutch medical schools, one employing problem-based learning (PBL) and one using non-PBL methods. No systematic differences were found on total test scores. Differences were demonstrated only at the level of individual questions. Results indicate that PBL and non-PBL instructional methods have…

Observes that interracial contact is a primary goal of school desegregation policies. Demonstrates that reallocation of students among schools may reduce opportunities for interracial contact by focusing on weak social ties as one important type of contact. Considers policy implications for schools and theoretical implication for understanding…

Studied efficiency differences in Finnish senior secondary schools by Data Envelopment Analysis, using four variant models. Average efficiencies in the most extensive models were 82% to 84%. Considering parents' educational level increased average efficiency to 91%. Tobit analysis showed school size did not affect efficiency. Input and output…

A journalist looks at the qualities of elite public high schools, examining how they promote academic rigor and high achievement and how these variables can be measured. The role of advanced placement programs in setting high standards and motivating students is highlighted. (MSE)

Evaluates the International Baccalaureate (IB), a preuniversity, post-16, 2-year diploma. The IB contains four language features: communication and interaction, responsibility and transparency, language skills and contents related to the aims, and integration of program and assessment. The program compares favorably at higher levels with…