Noting that reading specialists are transforming themselves from remedial reading tutors into schoolwide resource specialists, this guidebook recognizes the need to deal with both process and content within this challenging role. Chapters in the book are: (1) Getting Started; (2) Developing the School Program from September to June: (3) Developing…

This paper presents data from two in-depth studies to illustrate the importance of community involvement and staff development for improving schools. The first case study describes how community political action in a school district in southwestern Ohio spurred school reform. In "Riverside," a pseudonym, the black community sought to…

This report was developed to meet the staffing assessment requirements of the Vision 2000 program, an Arkansas effort to support a community-based service system to increase the independence, productivity, and integration of individuals with developmental disabilities. The staffing assessment portion of the program focused on three tasks: (1)…

The Alliance Library System (ALS) is one of 12 regional library systems in Illinois, providing a full spectrum of support services for 300 member libraries of all types (public, school, academic, and special) located in west central Illinois. This paper describes the process by which ALS implemented a voice/video/data network connecting their four…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of new library media specialists about the usefulness of orientation and professional support programs occurring within the first two years of employment. A 56-item questionnaire with rating scales and open-ended questions was designed to answer five research questions: (1) "What factors,…

This instructor's guide contains materials for a 20-30 hour course designed to address essential math skills in the workplace. The course description lists target audience, general objective, and typical results observed. The next section gives instructors basic information related to providing successful educational programs in a workplace…

This document is a compilation of materials on integrating academic and vocational technical education. Section 1 presents integration basics, including a definition, its benefits, barriers, conditions required for integration, and models, pros, and cons. Section 2 focuses on curriculum alignment and provides steps for designing an integrated unit…

This paper describes the integration of computers into two preschool classrooms in the Child Development Laboratories at the University of Tennessee. Before the placement of the computers in fall 1996, conversations with teachers revealed concerns about how best to use the computers. As a result of these discussions, a plan for training and…

This manual presents a model, currently implemented in Oakland, California, for designing and carrying out a program to provide special services to students with special needs within general education classrooms in Catholic elementary schools. It notes that no formalized support system currently exists within Catholic schools for students with…

The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood teaching is based on curriculum and teaching practices developed in the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. This video highlights an ongoing Detroit, Michigan Head Start staff development project, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. The staff development program was launched in consultation with…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on learning organization practices. "Learning Lenses of Leading Organizations: Best Practices Survey" (Laurel S. Jeris) shows that successful learning organizations view learning initiatives through multiple lenses with a clear, sustained focus on strategic outcomes. "Dimensions…

This report raises fundamental issues that must be explored by educators considering participative decision-making as part of an educational restructuring initiative. In analyzing district readiness to implement a shared decision-making model, several factors must be considered, including school culture and climate, leadership style and attitude,…

This booklet is designed to assist community colleges in the design and implementation of staff and organizational development programs and reviews relevant issues and provides practical ideas for successful development efforts. After chapter I briefly introduces the audience for and intent of the booklet, chapter II describes 12 development…

This paper describes a staff development model that was designed and implemented to address the professional training needs of staff working with autistic children in rural, northeastern Oregon. The county coordinator of child development and school psychology and the regional autism specialist held monthly, multidisciplinary professional meetings…

Focusing on the staff development process, a study examined the use of research in teaching reading comprehension by six teachers at two Tucson, Arizona middle schools. The schools employed both individual and group staff development, but while one school was considered to have a positive school culture, the other school was predicted to have a…