The Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI) program is an effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that targets large urban school systems with the goal of sustainable implementation of high-quality, standards-based teaching for the purpose of attaining system-wide increases in students' learning of challenging mathematics and science.…

In l998, Idahoans gathered in a series of six Regional Futures Conferences to identify what they thought was probable during the next ten years, what was possible for libraries to do and be, and what a preferred future of Idaho libraries might be. Participants from the regional conferences then convened to refine and focus descriptions of the…

This report discusses the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require states to develop alternate assessments for students with disabilities who cannot participate in large-scale assessment programs. The report also profiles five state alternate assessment practices that have been developed or are emerging and…

This working paper is a staff paper prepared to elicit discussion of issues as they relate to degree completion and persistence in Indiana's public postsecondary education. This is based on a requirement from the Indiana General Assembly for the Commission of Higher Education to "develop a definition for and report biennially on" degree…

This report focuses on one technology initiative, the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF), and on five states as they attempted to implement the program in the first year of funding, 1997-98. The five states selected--Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Texas, and Washington--varied in their location, size, minority population, poverty…

The first section in this 31st annual report summarizes activities provided in Ohio through Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act during fiscal year 1996. Title I authorizes federally funded programs that prioritize educational needs of several groups of educationally disadvantaged children and deliver appropriate supplemental…

Tech prep programs integrate academic, occupational, and employability during the last 2 years of high school and the first 2 years of college, combining the best of college-prep academics with the best of vocational and technical education. The Ohio Tech Prep program, jointly administered by the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of…

This document is the Tennessee Board of Regents' (TBR's) second annual report card, which details the accomplishments of the state's public higher education institutions in four areas: student learning, academic programs, faculty productivity, and financial accountability. An overall status report is provided for the entire state system, followed…

This prospectus outlines the key elements of the state-by-state report card which the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is developing to assist state policy leaders in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of higher education performance in their state. The goal is to stimulate the creation of state policies that enhance…

In a time of fiscal belt tightening, many states will hesitate to launch new multimillion-dollar distance education network projects. Instead they will concentrate on regulatory initiatives to stimulate the development of affordable advanced universal service by the private sector. Discusses the limitations of state regulatory strategies in the…

The methodology associated with the California Study of Elementary Mathematics is examined. The article includes an overview of state policy and a description of participants and data collection procedures at the state, school district, school, and classroom levels, including methods used to collect data for development of case studies. (TJH)

As a follow-up to a survey of state superintendents of instruction, multicultural education personnel were surveyed to acquire information on multicultural programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data indicate that multicultural education is thriving at the state level, with improved funding and increased interest. (SLD)

Asserts that assessment has become a leading national educational issue. Presents a chronology of events in California related to student assessment reform. Identifies the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) three key elements: (1) individual student scores; (2) performance testing; and (3) curriculum improvement. (CFR)

Ohio's Commission on the Future of Gifted Education was created to establish a consensus of realistic priorities for the future of gifted education. The commission was initiated by advocates within the gifted education community and includes legislators, members of professional education organizations and parent organizations, and concerned…

This content analysis of 39 state definitions of "developmentally delayed infants and toddlers" for Part H of Public Law 99-457 focused on types of children, conditions listed as established conditions, criteria used to determine delay, and criteria delineated for "at risk" status. The analysis found some type of problem in…