This report contains findings of an evaluation of the first phase of Tayside Region's (Scotland) Devolved School Management (DSM) scheme. The evaluation sought to evaluate the first phase of implementation and to suggest ways in which the scheme and accompanying training might be improved. Sixty schools chose to participate in the first phase,…

This strategic plan details the commitment of the California State Library to the future and the recognition of its record of achievement of the past. The document is divided into four sections. The first section discusses the Library's mission and philosophy and describes various programs (State Library Service Bureau, Braille and Talking Books…

This report contains the findings of the first year of a 2-year Hudson Institute study of U.S. charter schools, which focused on their startup problems, solutions to the problems, and the policy environments in which such schools are most likely to thrive or falter. Data during 1995-96 were derived from site visits to 35 charter schools, which…

Professional-development schools are collaborations between universities and public schools to improve the nation's teaching force. Prospective teachers are assigned to K-12 schools for formal instruction, planned experiences in classrooms, and mentoring from master teachers. This paper presents findings of a qualitative study that described the…

In 1991, the Minnesota Legislature enacted the first legislation in the nation to permit creation of legally and financially independent public schools called charter schools. In February 1996, the Minnesota State Board of Education authorized an 18-month evaluation of Minnesota's charter schools. An evaluation team from the University of…

This paper focuses on how career and work activities can be incorporated into the everyday curricula of elementary students and made part of their records through use of Individual Career Development Portfolios (ICDP). It promotes use of the ICDP as both a collection of student works that result from career awareness activities and experiences…

This book contains the following papers on the Leonardo da Vinci project: "Looking for Post-16 Education Strategies for Parity of Esteem in Europe" (Lasonen); "Improving Parity of Esteem as a Policy Goal" (Makinen, Volanen); "Alternative Strategies for Parity of Esteem between General/Academic and Vocational Education in…

This guide presents a step-by-step portfolio assessment method for teachers who want to implement portfolio assessment in their classrooms. Portfolio assessment is not neat or tidy in its early stages, but tidy and organized portfolios can be constructed if the outlined steps are followed. These are: (1) storage and establishing a file for each…

This publication summarizes research that investigated how school-based management (SBM) can be implemented for long-term school improvement. It is argued that a successful SBM plan must be part of a quest for improvement and utilize a "high involvement" model. In addition to having more power, schools need knowledge of the organization,…

The report details the findings of a study concerning the support services needed to provide effective public school instruction for California's population of linguistically and culturally diverse students. Information was obtained from three sources: school district and intermediate agency administrators and professional personnel trainers;…

This guide explains the benefits and use of Ohio's career passport, which is designed to serve as a standard statewide vocational credential that represents individuals as completers of secondary or adult vocational programs and that is transferable across the state regardless of where a vocational completer received training. Discussed in section…

This report measures progress in the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The report notes the life experiences of people with disabilities and the social values which led to passage of the ADA, and reviews early signs of implementation success. The report then summarizes findings and recommendations emanating from…

A privately funded educational choice model is presented in this document, which is based on the experiences of four privately funded programs in Indianapolis (Indiana), San Antonio (Texas), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), and Atlanta (Georgia). The model is designed to help interested persons or organizations establish a privately funded educational…

This kit provides 24 essays on book repair: (1) "Conservation at the American Philosophical Society: An Institutional Profile in 1992" (H. Kyle); (2) "The Book Repair Program at Brigham Young University: An Institutional Profile" (R. Silverman); (3) "Book Repair and Conservation: Conservation Center for Art and Historic…

This guidebook is designed to help the individual school faculty, staff, and administration create a school plan. Five features critical to a successful school-improvement plan include: support by research findings; a focus on student achievement; attention to issues of quality and equity; collaboration; and an ongoing and self-renewing process.…