Briefly describes the national Head Start Teaching Center model, the implementation of this model in the New England region, the outcome evaluation plan, and results from the first year of training. Finds that training significantly increased trainees' knowledge, skills, and expertise. (EV)

L. Ku supports the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program as effective in improving children's health. D. Besharov and P. Germanis reiterate their earlier criticisms that the program is less effective than commonly believed and that research evidence about its effectiveness is flawed. (SLD)

Investigated use of standardized questionnaires to establish organizational characteristics of group day-care providers in self-assessments. Examined processes by which nurseries instigate group discussing of self-assessment procedures, establish priorities for change, develop action plans, and implement change. Identified several suitable…

Project Texas is a professional development program for K-8 teachers from districts serving underrepresented populations in order to develop teacher knowledge of Texas' eco-regions. The program provides a meaningful context modeling integration of field experiences, investigative activities, problem-solving strategies, and cooperative learning…

Examined effectiveness of conflict resolution training integrated into a curriculum unit on friendship taught daily for 4 consecutive weeks to kindergartners in a midwestern suburban school. Found significant differences in trained and untrained children's knowledge and retention of the conflict resolution procedure, willingness and ability to use…

Describes and evaluates the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative, a six-state consortium for academic improvement supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), that focuses on low-income rural schools. The 1-day, one-school site visits that constitute program reviews in this initiative are unlikely to enhance achievement in either science…

This rebuttal provides a more complete description of the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative than the previous article, describes the Program Improvement Review process in more detail and outlines its role in the overall project, and provides data that supports the program's overall effectiveness. (Author/SLD)

Describes a workplace literacy project implemented at a hospital with help from a university and a literacy organization. Finds significant changes in all basic skill areas and improvement in job performance, attitude, and self-esteem. Argues that well-designed programs improve employee job performance when program success is closely linked to…

This study examined the extent to which wages received by graduates of the Chicago Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) youth programs are more closely correlated with the program in which the client participated or the client's personal history. Results found that program type was a particularly critical factor for the wages of African American…

Evaluated the usefulness of interactive television and computer-supported learning for in-service teacher education at rural community centers in South Africa. Findings supported the usefulness of this model of technological use for teacher education. (EV)

Survey investigated the attitudes, expectations, activities, and recommendations for pharmacy fellowships of 66 preceptors and 57 fellows. There was some discrepancy between preceptors and fellows in activities perceived as being accomplished during fellowship training and in program strengths and weaknesses. Most fellows were very satisfied with…

Investigates student and community satisfaction with programs designed and implemented by students for groups of pediatric clients who were identified as at risk or in need of psychological services. Reports that students and the community expressed high levels of satisfaction and that confidence in student ability increased by the end of the…

Evaluated the design and effectiveness of the New England Head Start Teaching Center (NEHSTC), created to test the efficacy of participatory, hands-on training for enhancing Head Start service delivery. Found that Head Start staff who participated in NEHSTC training demonstrated gains in knowledge, skills, and attitudes compared to similar…

Describes the Agriculture-Science Project, a program designed for inner-city African-American males to improve science grades, increase awareness of good health/safety practices, and increase awareness of science/health careers. Notes summer program results revealing significant differences in educational climate between summer and regular school,…

Assessed the outcome of a therapeutic horseback riding program for adults with physical disabilities. A one-group, pre- test/post-test design was used to evaluate changes on level of physical and global self-efficacy. Behavioral indices of self-confidence were also evaluated. Physical self-efficacy and behavioral self-confidence increased from…