Because social policy making continues to devolve to the state level, social workers should understand how advocacy and policy making occur at that level. Interest groups active in the human services arena were surveyed and data were used to test a model of interest group effectiveness in four states. The independent variables were amount of…

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network (OSAM) is designed to provide accurate, timely, qualitatively-oriented epidemiologic descriptions of substance abuse trends and emerging problems in the state's major urban and rural areas. Use of qualitative methods in identifying and assessing substance abuse practices in local communities is one of…

In 2008, the Center for Digital Education (CDE) conducted a review of state policy and programs to determine the status of online learning policy and practice across the United States. CDE interviewed state education officials across the nation to evaluate the overall landscape of online learning. The rankings reflect the vision, policies,…

This publication updates information from prior surveys of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the areas of: teacher licensure standards, standards boards, emergency or shortage-driven licensure, alternative preparation, minority teacher recruitment, state response to violence in classrooms, and linkages between efforts towards K-12…

For the past five years, Vermont has been developing an innovative statewide assessment system in which portfolios of student work in mathematics and writing are a key element. The use of mathematics portfolios, particularly in elementary school, is a novel aspect of the assessment system. This study examines the elementary school mathematics…

This report, mandated by Ohio's 119th General Assembly, examines the fairness and appropriateness of the state's ninth-grade proficiency test. Under the assumption that it is indeed fair and appropriate to have a single, statewide graduation standard for all students, the study focuses on the issue of whether the test, as developed and…

This paper documents student, teacher, and administrator attitudes toward the initiation of performance-based tests on a statewide level in Mississippi. The initial study surveyed approximately 620 test participants in grades 1 through 10 during the period between the fall test administration and the receipt of the test results in January. The…

This report, based on employment data for 1994 Minnesota technical college graduates, is intended to provide information that will enable prospective students make informed educational and career decisions. The report, organized into six sections, includes: (1) An introduction, with definitions of terms and a list of technical college programs in…

This handbook is designed to help educators at the secondary and postsecondary level implement strategies to serve students with special needs in tech prep programs. Chapter 1 suggests how it can be used. Chapter 2 defines tech prep and addresses its funding, students, and mission and goal in Virginia. Chapter 3 focuses on what the Perkins Act…

The Idaho allocation plan for funds from the Library Service and Construction Act (LSCA) continues the emphasis on priorities described in the statewide plan for years 1994-1998. These priorities are: (1) advocate for the creation of library districts with adequate tax support to serve the state's entire population; (2) strengthen cooperation and…

The Ohio Sixth-grade Proficiency Tests are designed to measure a sixth-grade level of literacy and basic competence. Beginning in March 1996, Ohio sixth graders will take proficiency tests in writing, reading, mathematics, citizenship, and science. Both teachers and administrators have been involved in the test development process, establishing…

In April 1991, members of the Kentucky Educational Research Association (KERA), held a conference to discuss performance assessment and its use in Kentucky schools. The following papers from the conference are included: (1) "Our Conference and the Performance Assessment Committee" (S. Kifer); (2) "Performance Assessment: A National…

This report presents outcomes of deliberations at the Tech Prep Leadership Summit on a "national vision" for tech prep. Following an introduction, Section 2 represents the consensus reached at the summit. Discussion of the purpose of tech prep focuses on the mission statement and goals of the Tech Prep Act. The discussion of program…

This paper describes activities of Morehead State University (Kentucky) to support public schools in adjusting to state-mandated educational reforms in curriculum, instruction, assessment, support for children and their families, shared decision-making, and paradigm shifts from Skinnerian behaviorism concepts to social constructivism. Activities…

This second statewide School Performance Report offers a snapshot of public education in Wisconsin during the 1992-93 school year. District-collected data make up the School Climate section, providing information on enrollment, attendance, suspensions, expulsions, retentions, dropouts, graduation and later education, and extracurricular and…