A survey ascertained whether Arizona seventh-grade students perceived themselves to have participated in and benefited from career awareness, exploration, and counseling activities. In total, 2,349 seventh-grade students participated in the survey administered in spring 1997 after one full year of school-to-work (STW) regional funding. Students…

This state plan for the education of gifted/talented students in Texas first offers a rationale and goal and then defines the state and district roles for educating gifted students. The plan provides guidelines for use by local district personnel in the development of gifted programs that meet state requirements. These guidelines include: (1)…

In recent years there have been substantial changes in the way in which education is structured, financed, and managed in Australia. The move towards more self-management in schools, is now operating in the Australian school systems. Similar changes have been occurring in other countries, spurred on, by the governments' desire to save money. In…

The new government of the state of Victoria (Australia) announced its "Schools of the Future" program in 1993. The emphasis on the role of the community in education and self-management by schools seemed promising for the quality of education in the state, but after 3 years of implementation, the reality does not match the rhetoric of…

In all states of Australia, the move toward decentralization of education seems to have gained momentum. This is particularly true in Victoria, where the government's "Schools of the Future" program declared the importance of local community control of schools. Recent research, however, indicates that after 3 years, the reality of this…

The public school funding lawsuits that have been filed over the last two decades indicate that many people are not satisfied with the existing levels of school funding. After several years of trying to bring about changes through different avenues, a group called Tennessee Small School Systems filed suit in 1988 to have the system of financing…

A survey of work and family policies in state-supported organizations in Texas was conducted for the Texas Workforce Commission's Work and Family Clearinghouse. Survey questions addressed the prevalence, perceived need, and future direction of dependent care programs and flexible work arrangements (FWA). Key findings in dependent care include: (1)…

A survey was completed by 30 administrators in Northwest Ohio who were in charge of the administration and remediation for the Ohio Ninth Grade Proficiency Tests for their respective schools. On a scale of 0 to 5 (0 signifying not at all and 5 signifying great extent), the respondents were asked to rate 20 different intervention and remediation…

One of the first tasks in developing the academic achievement indicator for the Plan-Canadian Education Indicators Program was to survey each province and territory about existing student assessment and examination practices. Survey results are reported. There is considerable diversity in Canadian assessment and evaluation practices because…

This briefing paper summarizes survey data collected from 42 state education agencies (SEAs) on the topic of personnel to support the education of children and youth with deafblindness. A variety of topics are covered including state and regional consultants, the use of paraeducators, state regulations and guidelines, and the involvement of…

Wisconsin Works (W-2) is a time-limited employment assistance program that, in September 1997, replaced cash entitlements provided to low-income families under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. W-2 provides subsidized or unsubsidized placements for participants, based upon their level of preparedness for employment. Participants in both…

This paper highlights eight states that have implemented alternate assessments for children with disabilities who cannot participate in their state and district-wide assessment programs. The alternate assessment systems in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia are briefly described, along with their…

As the new millennium begins, the Commission on Higher Education urges the Governor and Legislature to enhance New Jersey's commitment to higher education and build on college and university strengths to meet the challenges of the future. The state's increasing investment to support college and university operations and facilities, student…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act requires each state to submit a biennial plan to implement the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). This report is based on the approved State Plans for the period October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2001. The analysis includes information from 48 states, the District of Columbia,…

This report presents the findings and recommendations from a study of school district and charter school participation in the Texas Virtual School Pilot (VSP). The report also provides an overview of the activities of the charter schools and districts that participated in the first year of the pilot program. This information includes descriptions…