Civic learning for all students seems like a reasonable and important aim for all schools to achieve. If we believe that the future of our American democracy depends on a citizenry that is informed, engaged, and responsible, what better place to create future citizens than in schools? The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools…

The two parts of this report to the Kansas State Board of Education discuss the need for early childhood education, and the feasibility of early childhood education in the public schools. Data suggest a need for preschool education, especially for vulnerable children who cannot otherwise receive the benefits of education when they reach the age of…

Described are characteristics of the school improvement planning and implementation efforts made in the 47 New York State schools that were identified as low-performing in 1985. This report identifies the aspects of the school improvement process which were completed, and offers recommendations concerning appropriate actions for all schools. Data…

This paper is part of a broader study considering effects of welfare reform on households in rural areas. This report describes the findings of qualitative research, which examined welfare reform implementation and availability of services in 12 rural communities in Alabama, Arkansas, California, and Maine. The study sites were diverse in terms of…

This handbook has been prepared to assist administrators, curriculum specialists, and teachers in local school districts and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) in the state of New York in developing curriculum, but it could be used by local education agencies in any state. The introduction describes the role of the state and of…

The California State Department of Education provides part-day comprehensive development programs for 3- to 5-year-olds from low income families. The programs include educational development, health services, social services, nutrition services, parent education and participation, evaluation, and staff development. The state requires that all…

This study was undertaken to describe efforts in three states to create customized vocational training for specific client firms as part of economic development efforts. Approximately 70 persons from education, business, and state government were interviewed; documents from the three states (Ohio, South Carolina, and New York) were reviewed; and,…

In 1994, an evaluation was made of the Adult Education for the Homeless (AEH) program in Ohio. Ohio currently has the third largest AEH project (of 32 states), with 40 sites spread over 12 locations. The evaluation was both formative and summative and was based on theoretical models of adult education (Teaching-Learning Exchange Theory and…

Missouri's vocational education delivery system provided a full range of programs, services, and activities for students in secondary, postsecondary, and adult institutions during fiscal year 1993. Some highlights of these activities are the following: (1) the system was composed of 418 local education agencies (LEAs), including 397 comprehensive…

State and local governments have been in the front lines of dealing with the adverse effects of recent economic change. States have embarked on a dual approach to economic adjustment. First, they have established programs that respond to economic change and cushion its deleterious effects on communities and individuals. Second, they have attempted…

This report contains two sections: a summary of a conference on state literacy initiatives including the agenda and list of participants, and a series of profiles of the literacy efforts of individual states. The four issues identified and discussed at the meeting were (1) development of state initiatives; (2) coordination and expansion of state…

An evaluation was made of secondary and postsecondary vocational-technical education in North Dakota to review progress since the passage of Public Law 101-392 in that state. Some of the findings of the postsecondary evaluation are the following: (1) between 1991 and 1993, a unique statewide tech prep initiative was begun and is in its second…

A multi-dimensional training program is being implemented in Pennsylvania to improve the quality of early childhood and child care programs. Training opportunities are provided for early childhood program and day care center staff, group and family home day care providers, and unregulated child care providers. The overall training plan is designed…

This document contains a description of the activities, concerns, findings, and recommendations of the Missouri Industrial Arts Study Project. It is intended to be a foundation on which the state's industrial arts programs, to be renamed "industrial technology education," can be built. The study summarized in this report was conducted by…

This manual was developed for use by the personnel of the New Jersey state department of education to provide technical assistance to local, state, and federal bilingual education and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) projects in the state. It contains seven training modules, each consisting of a reproducible workshop packet with procedures for…