Analyzes the intentions and results of federal efforts to promote educational improvement over the past 25 years. Federal efforts are described in the following areas: block grant funding; requirements for local evaluation and planning; research, development, and evaluation; linkage; and targeted support for local improvement. (CT)

Presents the results of a national survey regarding the preparation of secondary school counselors. (Author)

Describes the educators' problems in communicating psychology's value and relevance to students in introductory courses. Course and texts must be improved in order to increase student understanding of the practical consequences of psychological principles. The author suggests changes in course and textbook content to increase student cognitive…

This aricle describes the successful efforts of district arts teachers in saving their art programs in the face of declining enrollments. The Board of Education accepted the committee report, retaining all tenured and non-tenured staff, and was willing to make a substantial financial commitment to the fine arts program. (KC)

The author proposes four steps to improve reading and writing skills instruction in secondary schools, in line with the call for a return to "basics" in the CBS television special "Is Anyone Out There Learning?" All articles in this journal issue comment on this television program. (SJL)

Provides data gathered from a survey of English teachers in Alabama revealing the potential use of a list of teacher qualifications as an instrument for individual teachers' self-assessments and for directing teacher education program improvements. (RL)

Although at one time leadership for establishing requirements in certification and preservice teacher education programs was the domain of teacher educators, that responsibility has shifted to legislators. An example of the result of the legislator's role in program development is a competency based teacher education program. (JN)

Nurses in both education and service need to develop a shared vision of the profession and to work together to put it into practice. There should be improved collaboration between faculty and nursing administrators. Nursing students lack the opportunity to become socialized to the role of the nurse and to the world of work. (CT)

A number of ways in which evaluations may be biased are illustrated: (1) policy and political purposes for evaluations; (2) sources of policy or political bias prior to evaluation activities; (3) limitations and biases within the evaluation itself; and (4) utilization of evaluation information in the policy process. (Author/GK)

Describes Baltimore's productive use of advisory committees (particularly those described as "curriculum,""trade", "craft", or "occupational") in five different vocational programs. Included are guidelines that apply to all craft committees for the city's schools but still leave each committee free to attack…

Examines some of the conditions needed for developing quality relations between social workers and foster carers in the realm of practical organization and in terms of individual qualities such as reliability, honesty, empathy and warmth. Looks at how social services and social work departments, in voluntary and statutory sectors, organize their…

Reviews the development of European Union's early childhood social policy agenda over the last 15 years, examining what part of the agenda addresses early years issues and what problems the EU should focus on. Raises questions that require attention and makes a series of suggestions as to what a distinctive European approach for early year…

Discusses results of a survey of school media specialists and their budgets in a group of 81 participants in Western North Carolina. Findings included: virtually all participants had site-based management teams or school improvement teams in their schools, however, only a third of the media specialists were on these teams, and there was much…

The team teaching experiences of teachers in special education courses at the higher education level are recounted. The differences in the teaching of the courses are examined and context, content, and learner factors that impact team teaching are identified. Ways to facilitate and prepare teachers for team teaching at the university level are…

A study was conducted to investigate the views of 40 Australian service providers on the support and service needs of parents with intellectual disabilities and to discover key issues faced by the providers. The special needs of the parents, desirable service characteristics, and constraints on service delivery are identified. (CR)