In the year 2000, the Southern Regional Task Force on Child Care was formed with representatives from 16 southern states and the District of Columbia as well as appointments from the Southern Institute on Children and Families and the Southern Growth Policies Board to collaborate in developing an action plan to improve access to child care…

Describes goal/objectives, course content/materials, context/users/beneficiaries, and transferability of the Maine Studies Curriculum, a state-validated demonstration project taught as part of the regular school curriculum. Also describes project evaluation (pilot testing, interpretability of measures, credibility of evidence, evidence of impact…

This survey examined benefits received by 56 vocational services customers through the Illinois Bureau of Blind Services (BBS). Consumers reported high levels of satisfaction with the services, substantial improvements in mobility and daily living skills, and a sense that the BBS had improved their overall quality of life. (PB)

Interviews were conducted with 60 human-services-agency staff of the Child and Adolescent Service System Program in California and 67 parents of children with serious emotional disturbance regarding changes over the previous four years in their local children's service systems. Results indicate increased interagency collaboration and family…

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the development of safety, permanency, and child well-being indicators by using administrative data sets as well as by using these indicators as tools for evaluating Florida's Community-Based Care (CBC) initiative. Longitudinal data from 37 counties including 4 counties that implemented community-based…

Over the last decade, teacher performance assessments (TPAs) have begun to find appeal in the context of teacher education programs and teacher licensing for their innovative ways of assessing teacher knowledge and skills but primarily for their potential to promote teacher learning and reflective teaching. Studies of preservice teachers who have…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET) provides nutrition information and instructional resources for children and for key individuals involved in children's learning environments. The latter category includes parents, educators, and food service personnel. This document describes formal evaluation…

The Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) was piloted in the state of Washington during the 1985-86 school year. Each of 89 beginning teachers was assigned a mentor teacher to provide continuing and sustained support during the school year. A survey of beginning teachers, mentors, and school principals at the end of the school year yielded…

A 12-point program for improving the teaching profession is offered as a means to improve New York's schools. The recommendations contained in this document call for the state government to establish basic goals, standards, and guidelines for the teaching profession. However, local discretion and control are viewed as important elements in several…

Briefly described are 15 projects originally funded by the State of Maine as early childhood education plans, subsequently evaluated as successful and instituted by local units as part of a regular school program. After each program description, the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of contact persons are provided. (RH)

Profiled are 5 child care centers, 5 child care systems, 2 cities, 1 community, 1 county, and 6 states and provinces that have developed new policies aimed at improving the compensation of staff in child care occupations. Examples describe how salary initiatives at different levels got started, what barriers were overcome, and what was…

To learn the extent to which transition class programs had been implemented in the Rhode Island public schools, all districts in the state were surveyed. The survey was designed to gather basic information about transition programs operating throughout the state, and learn why such programs have not been introduced in some districts. Findings,…

This report documents the proceedings of a conference on the validation of exemplary educational programs, products, and practices presented by the Regional Exchange of the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL/RX). It is different from other conference syntheses, as it includes the process for creating the conference as well as the…

Governor Booth Gardner established the Governor's Task Force on Hunger in 1986 and asked its members to study the problem of hunger in Washington State over a 2-year period. The task force conducted its work through three main committees: one to survey the nature and extent of hunger in the state, one to uncover major causes of hunger, and one to…

The document reports the first year's accomplishments of the New York State Implementation Grant to improve the delivery of services to handicapped children ages birth to 5 years. Activities are discussed for the following areas: developing guidelines supporting legislation, developing a written plan as part of the annual state plan, establishing…