A research study of the implementation of "good ideas" in 14 schools came to the conclusion that differences in school organization and climate cause differences in the success of school improvement. Specific aspects of organization and climate in these schools, called factors of school context, are the following: resources, incentives,…

The following papers are included: "JFK's Four Consumer Rights" (Lampman); "Product Safety" (Gerner); "Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis in Product Safety Regulation" (Crandall); "CPCS's Voluntary Standards" (Ault); "Consumer Safety and Issue Emergence Process" (Mayer); "Reflections on Research in…

This is the first edition of a report that brings together comparable data for a number of key education areas, by state, for a consecutive 5-year period, and a comparison for a 10-year period. This report provides data for 1975 and for 1981 through 1985, as well as a state-by-state comparison of 1975 with 1985. The first section, which covers…

A study identified strategies used in selected rural states for evaluating the effectiveness of vocational programs and services for handicapped and disadvantaged students. During the study, the researcher examined the documents used by 13 rural states to assess their vocational programs for handicapped and disadvantaged individuals. This…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 12 titles deal with the following topics: (1) the effects of cognitive strategy training on reading achievement and Piagetian cognitive level among high risk college freshmen; (2) the impact of a college reading program on…

A 3-year followup evaluation of the Personalized Education Program (PEP) of the General College, University of Minnesota, is presented. The program, which is designed to improve the academic retention and achievement of underprepared, freshman minority students, has served 273 students since the fall 1979 quarter, including 86 American Indians, 72…

Investigating a family intervention approach coordinating psychiatric social work services and development planning by day care center staff, a short-term longitudinal study was made of children and their families from entry into preschool day care through participation in kindergarten and primary grades. Of the 105 preschool children studied, 60…

A study examined the characteristics, educational training, and background experiences of women who entered apprenticeship in Hawaii during the period from July 1, 1974, through June 30, 1982. Survey instruments were completed by 118 of 243 female apprentices originally contacted--58 women registered with Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and 60 women…

The way public college students finance college was studied, based on student resource and expenditure surveys from four states: Arizona, California, New York, and Wisconsin. Comparisons were made of demographic and academic variables, as well as expenditure patterns of students receiving different kinds of aid. The following four aid recipient…

The Composite Indicator of Changes (CIC) in average salaries and wages paid by public school systems is designed to reflect overall changes, to compare salary trends among various categories of personnel, and to analyze salary trends in an individual school system and among groups of school systems. Annual updates of the CIC are computed from data…

This study investigates the self-concept of 37 Cambodian children who have recently resettled in Richmond (Virginia) after experiencing war, turmoil, and refugee camp life in Southeast Asia. The study group consisted of 19 Cambodian males and 17 Cambodian females, whose ages ranged from 5 to 14 years. About 17 percent of the respondents were in…

The sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), developed by Abraham Wald, is one statistical model available for making mastery decisions during computer-based criterion referenced tests. The predictive validity of the SPRT was empirically investigated with two different and relatively large item pools with heterogeneous item parameters. Graduate…

A review of studies conducted from 1973-1984 shows continuing inequalities between rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian school districts in Kentucky, particularly in the areas of expenditures, sources of revenue, and holding power. The gap between Appalachian and non-Appalachian school systems in per pupil expenditures and the percentage of…

Formal definitions are one example of "decontextualized" language use, in which reliance on background knowledge shared with the interlocutor is minimized, and use of conversational devices is avoided. Definitions of English nouns by 137 second- to fifth-grade children, about half of whom were non-native English speakers, were analyzed…

Written for educators, legislators, and the general public, this monograph is a resource for better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the one-teacher school. The material is designed to inspire more confidence in the quality of education possible in rural America and to reinforce recognition that most schools--regardless of size--can…