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)

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…