This guide contains the recently revised 1998 Texas procedures concerning dyslexia and related disorders and provides school districts and parents with additional information on the state's dyslexia law and its relationship to the federal laws, Section 540 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The…

A national shift toward greater state and district control of the teacher recertification process and a trend toward a reduced role for higher education institutions is reported. Certificate renewal requirements in 36 states and problems of quality control that might arise in locally directed programs are noted. (PP)

Focuses on how one Canadian province, Ontario, and one American state, Florida, have responded to the new realities of an increasingly multicultural society in terms of second- and foreign-language education policies and practices. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach are analyzed. (SLD)

Five case studies of implementation of instructional policy changes at the classroom level by elementary-school mathematics teachers are discussed. The case studies focus on California's new Mathematics Framework. The interaction between teacher practice and policy is emphasized. Teachers' inherited beliefs, knowledge, and existing practices are…

Directors of gifted and talented programs in 38 states responded to a Gifted Practices Survey. The survey addressed identification, evaluation methods, definitions, role of the regular classroom teacher, certification programs, and the history of providing services and special funding. Findings suggest that states appear to be engaging in expected…

Describes the adoption of non-textbook-based materials for elementary science instruction in California. The necessary collaboration between educational technology, curriculum, and instructional professionals is discussed; integrated multimedia materials are described that include software, video, kits, and booklets; and the role of teachers and…

Choice plans include private schools (voucher plans, tax credits and deductions, and contract services and charter plans) and public schools (intradistrict choice, interdistrict choice, and statewide choice). Issues spanning both areas are those of curricular choice and residential choice. (SLD)

Explains issues involved in establishing "charter schools," public schools set up by outside educators or others under a contract granted by some responsible public body. Elements of the Minnesota charter law are discussed. The idea of alternate sponsorship is critical to new and better ways of education. (SLD)

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's Program for Access and Equity improves minority participation and achievement in state colleges and universities by working with institutional leaders and state officials. It addresses statewide needs, emphasizes state and institutional planning, and stresses qualitative and quantitative minority…

Analyzes public opinion on school choice using telephone survey data from 1,508 Detroit (Michigan) metropolitan area residents. Examines within-district, cross-district, statewide, and tax credit options. Substantial support for school choice is demonstrated, and residents overall are receptive to choice, in spite of the area's history of extreme…

This standards review is the second in a series of annual reviews of the Colorado Model Content Standards. Its purpose is to identify student performance over time on measures of existing science standards, identify ways to affirm and strengthen standards and more clearly articulate the practices used by Colorado schools to promote student…

A study examined technology refusal within the context of applied academics and, specifically, the applied biology and chemistry curriculum used in Pennsylvania. It identified school cultural factors that acted as barriers to technology implementation and developed a framework for inservice education of secondary agricultural and science educators…

This portion of the annual report on the state of education in Arizona focuses on statistical and financial data for the 1992-1993 fiscal year. Section 1 provides general statistical information in the following categories: (1) state funding and revenues; (2) expenditure history; (3) average daily membership history; (4) state summary of number…

This report is the second of three annual reports to the Montana Certification Standards and Practices Advisory Council (CSPAC) on the effectiveness of mentoring new teachers. Specific research topics for the study were: (1) whether mentoring conducted under an exclusive one-on-one relationship has an effect on the new teacher's development as…

This report is the third of four reports on the Beginning Teacher Support Program (BTSP) on the effectiveness of mentoring new teachers. The paper focuses on technical aspects of the study. Study data are summarized in tables, including a comparison of teacher retention rates over the three years of BTSP, a summary of administrators' evaluations…