This document provides background on the development of the Alabama Basic Competency Tests (ABCT). James E. McLean, in "Introduction to the ABCT," discusses the creation of the tests, compares them with the California Achievement Tests, and indicates the ABCT relationship to the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. "Review of Past…

A major project intended to improve education in the Latin American and the Caribbean countries is described. Representatives from the various countries participated in intergovernmental meetings and reached an agreement that there was a need for a project to meet unsatisfied basic educational needs by the year 2000. The specific project…

This report describes the design of an implementation evaluation of the Massachusetts Basic Skills Improvement Policy, to be conducted during 1982-83. The Policy and Regulations were enacted in 1978-79 when school districts were required to develop basic skills improvement plans. In 1980-81 districts were required to implement their plans.…

Effective curriculum is based on a mastery learning model. According to Carroll's mastery learning model, learning rate is partially a function of student "perseverance" or time on task, which is in turn determined by a learner's entering repertoire and the quality of instruction. Although the mastery-learning model looks simple, its execution is…

The Programmatic Emphasis project was conducted at the University of Illinois to build the university's capacity for addressing the problems of serving special needs youth and adults in vocational education. A series of activities were undertaken to design and implement a preservice, inservice, and graduate-level instructional program; a research…

The Quality Assistance Plan (QAP) for Vocational Education in Illinois is a state-funded program for locally initiated, developed, implemented, and evaluated projects that was begun in Fiscal Year 1982. Its purpose is to build the capacity, in each educational setting, for the improvement of vocational education programs. That improvement should…

This handbook provides information related to the development and implementation of a public/private venture in the development of summer jobs for youth. Chapter I briefly describes preliminary planning. Chapter II focuses on developing a task force, including its composition, recruitment, and responsibilities. Chapter III discusses activities of…

Any attempts to improve excellence and equity in our schools must be predicated on the self-confident assumption that our schools can make a critical difference in the lives of children and young adults. Four propositions are offered as to what we know about school improvement: (1) public schools, individual classrooms, and school systems can and…

This study analyzes the attempts of the state of California to select and promote new educational practices under the auspices of ESEA Title IVC. First, the strategies adopted in California for selecting and promoting new programs are outlined in order to raise the question of the effectiveness of these procedures. Next, the research design is…

This paper summarizes some of the main conclusions of the Study of Dissemination Efforts Supporting School Improvement, specifically those regarding the process of innovation implementation. The focus is on the contributions of potential assisters to various implementation outcomes, from which implications for policy and practice are derived. The…

This research project was undertaken to investigate, analyze, and document the process of implementing a new policy of teacher supervision and evaluation in the five secondary schools of Lethbridge (Alberta) School District No. 51. The study focused on (1) critical stages in the implementation process; (2) supervisory behavior and supervisory…

This report has been prepared as a summary of an indepth study of the implementation of a policy of teacher supervision and evaluation in the secondary schools of Lethbridge (Alberta) School District No. 51. The new policy provided for the development of staff models of supervision in each school and a systemwide teacher evaluation process. The…

"Managing Reading By Objectives" (MRBO), the Beaverton (Oregon) School District's reading instruction system--based on learning objectives shared among parents, students, teachers, and administrators--is described through summaries, articles, diagrams, and policy statements. This compilation includes (1) an information sheet; (2) a flow…

The Seattle Public Schools' effort to define and establish effective schools is described in this paper, a transcript of four coordinated presentations. Ellen Roe, the first presenter, recounts the design of the project. Planning, she states, was begun in late 1981 by a decision seminar (comprised of teachers, administrators, a community…

This manual for district and school health personnel contains guidelines to facilitate the planning and implementation of vision screening programs in California public schools so that all students may benefit from optimal use of their sense of sight. The major program objectives, the legal basis, minimum requirements, and authorized personnel are…