Explores the concept of "effective help" in affirmative action to remove the stigma of branding policy recipients as being "preferentially selected" and implying a lack of ability. Argues that help must conform to societal values and that, if it is directed toward removing discriminatory barriers, it does not produce these…

Critiques recent efforts to improve the capacity of human service institutions to meet the needs of urban youth, and identifies the dissonance between the risk factors associated with these youth's cultural identities and the norms of the social institutions serving them. Discusses ways of overcoming this dissonance. (GR)

Makes a case for four key elements of the provisional license phase of a graduated driver-licensing program: (1) extended learning; (2) early intervention; (3) contingent advancement; and (4) two-stage instruction. (Contains 1 table and 19 references.) (WFA)

This article suggest three broad categories of improvements to 13 data systems on juvenile victimization: (1) systems could expand to include more jurisdictions or other population segments; (2) systems need to create more specific data items; and (3) systems need to be modified to provide continuity and interrelationships among systems. (Contains…

Consists of six articles discussing the effect of emerging technologies on agriculture. Specific topics include (1) agriscience programs, (2) the National Conference on Agriscience and Emerging Occupations and Technologies, (3) biotechnology, (4) program improvement through technology, (5) the Agriscience Teacher of the Year program, and (6)…

Outlines access to health care for children in out-of-home care under current law, reviews how health care access for these children would be affected by President Clinton's health care reform initiative, and proposes additional measures that could be considered to improve access and service coordination for children in the child welfare system.…

The institutional self-study required by a university hospital's reaccreditation process is explored, with a discussion of benefits and costs. A reaction by C. F. Waltz and A. Belcher reaffirms the value of reaccreditation studies and discusses ways of minimizing costs without compromising comprehensiveness and utility of results. (SLD)

Notes that universities are looking increasingly to local programs as potential locations for research projects; provides Head Start directors, staff, and parents with an understanding of the importance of research in the continued development and improvement of Head Start as a national intervention project for children and families. Explains the…

An expanded model of treatment evaluation is presented, and connections to stress and coping theory are examined. Examples are taken from a research program on the long-term outcomes of alcoholism and depression. Implications for assessment and diagnosis, program design and improvement, and stress and coping theory are explored. (SLD)

Uses statistical analysis and interviews to examine strategies employed by five small Ontario schools successfully using Independent Learning Courses (ILC). Charts schools' correspondence course completion rates. Surveys administrators. Links ILC success to program structuring, counseling, screening services, student progress monitoring, and…

Describes a curriculum development effort at Marymount University (Virginia) that combined a traditional human resource development (HRD) master's degree program with instructional systems design (ISD) and performance technology concepts. Courses in the program are described, with special emphasis given to one on performance improvement…

Description of the department of scientific and technological information specialty at Jilin University of Technology (China) focuses on the postgraduate program. Enrollment qualifications are described, improvements made in the program are explained, staff training is discussed, and ideas for future development are suggested. (LRW)

Evaluation and strategic management are related in that each attempts to improve the quality of policy decisions and each has evolved from a product-centered focus to one in which implementation and utilization are vital. Evaluators should understand strategic management theory to evaluate its applications appropriately. (SLD)

Early intervention, substantial parent involvement, effective instruction, and staff development that empowers teachers can improve the achievement of at-risk students. The task is to combine each of these components into a coherent whole by coordinating the efforts of the school, the family, and the community into a comprehensive set of…

Effects of training teacher evaluators and outcomes and quality of teacher evaluation were studied in Iowa for 619 elementary school and secondary school teachers. Findings relating to training effects are encouraging, and findings relating to teacher and evaluator attributes and the evaluation process provide direction for improving teacher…