Qualitative and quantitative data suggest that over the 10 years of Australia's National Training Reform Agenda initiatives, women in female-dominated occupations in nonprofessional, nonmanagerial jobs have fared less well than other workers. The goal of training for transferable skills has not been achieved for these women. (SK)

About 1,500 schools nationwide pay an estimated $200 million in federal funds to private enterprises claiming to provide better literacy instruction than the disappointing Title I results of the past 34 years. Programs run by Kaplan Inc., Success for All Foundation, Sylvan Learning Systems, and Reading Recovery Council are described. (MLH)

Discusses proposed legislation designed to improve the United States' education infrastructure. Outlines President Clinton's $5 billion school-construction initiative and describes areas in which the money can be used. Features interviews with Education Secretary, Richard Riley, and Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.), in which they discuss the…

A telephone survey was conducted among rural adolescents (N=414) to determine what demographic and theoretical factors from control, strain (or opportunity), and social learning theories predict occurrence of sexual intercourse and sexual partners. Sample characteristics, frequency distribution (dependent variables), and statistical…

The relationship between participation in national reform network activities and the quality of the Success for All program implementation is examined. Results of a research survey of principals and facilitators indicate that the success of the reform program relies on networking among teachers and schools through participation in national…

Examines the issue of whether or not federal government-generated databases reside in the public domain. Discusses a 1973 Supreme Court decision (Williams & Wilkins v. The United States), the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, and terms and conditions listed on various government databases. (MES)

After five years, the AmeriCorps program, a federal program designed to encourage youth to perform public service by providing substantial scholarships after completion, has been both praised as effective in getting things done and criticized as cost-ineffective. Some feel the money could have been better spent for federal grants or work-study…

The U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring the first national special-education expenditure study in nearly 15 years. A nationally representative sample including all states and 250 school districts will provide comprehensive and comparable data. Nine states will provide additional representative data to get a handle on their expenses. (MLH)

The North Carolina Transition Services Survey, designed to evaluate the impact of federally-funded transition systems change grant, was completed by 76 of 116 school systems. Analysis evaluated relationships between types of transition services, implementation strategies, and delivery of best practices. Systems that focused on implementing…

Analyzed data from the 1992-93 and 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) and found that the 1992 amendments to the Higher Education Act were associated with an increased tendency to borrow at the federal limit, particularly among undergraduates from middle-income families. (EV)

Explores how the Army's distance education program is attracting strong interest from soldiers at the same time that it is causing clashes between the military and academic cultures. (EV)

Describes an approach to introducing performance measurement into a large federal health program, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, in response to the government Performance and Results Act. Also discusses characteristics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that present unique challenges for performance measurement. (SLD)

When President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law in January 2002, it was generally described as the most sweeping national education reform that had been enacted in decades. Amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 made significant changes in the major…

Support for WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, is based on the belief that "WIC works." This consensus has lately been questioned by researchers who point out that most WIC research fails to properly control for selection into the program. This paper evaluates the selection problem using rich data…

Discusses how market failures can, in principle, be used to justify national parks. States the best rationale is based on existence or nonuse values instead of the recreational aspects. Shows more evidence (costs of providing and operating the parks and the magnitude of nonuse values) is needed before the case becomes compelling. (JEH)