Informational, diagnostic, prescriptive functions of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are best served by governance structure composed of federal, state, and local members and a standing technical advisory board. Structure protects NAEP from undue federal influence and special interest groups, builds bridges to educators and…

Future federal education policy should shift from complex, detailed regulations to broader grants of authority to state governments, with clear guidelines that specify national goals. Past federal activities, classified as distributive, regulatory, or redistributive, are reviewed to assess factors indicating effectiveness. (CJ)

To relieve the increasing shortage of skilled workers in the United Kingdom, the government established boards to stimulate and regulate private industry's training efforts and also provided direct training services in Skillcentres (formerly Government Training Centres). The article describes the Skillcentres program, training objectives, program…

Describes the mental health problem among the poor whose rural or cultural attitudes and values often prevent their seeking or receiving services. Describes federal involvement in mental health since 1946, including legislation, presidential policy, currently proposed bills, and budget items. Discusses state and local administration of federal…

Describes inequities in school finance. Examines Federal funding of bilingual and compensatory education programs and the impact of recent court decisions on finance reform. Considers the relationship between increased spending and educational outcomes for low-income children, and proposes research on the impact of educational funding on mainland…

The emergence, implementation, and interrelationships of various federally-sponsored information programs are described, along with the opportunities for development of state and local information services. Information services are shown to help improve access to educational and occupational opportunities and to bridge the gap between education…

Historical, structural, cross-cultural, and communication problems within four federally funded Indian drug abuse treatment programs caused conflict between federal agencies and Indians and within the Indian communities themselves. Many of the problems duplicated those encountered in dealing with alcohol abuse among Indians. (SB)

Section 439A of the Education Amendments of 1976 restricts the dischargeability of federal student loans to cases of "undue hardship." The origin, applications, and legal procedures involved in Section 439A and in Section 523(a) of the new Bankruptcy Code are examined and suggestions are made for determining the meaning of "undue…

Provides an overview of Australia's National Schools Network (NSN), a commonwealth-state collaborative network providing support to over 200 schools (K-12) that are rethinking their work organizations and teaching and learning practices. A key component of the NSN is the linkage of teacher professional development with systemic research that…

Programs related to individuals with deafness are listed: federal programs, state vocational rehabilitation offices, regional and local programs, national professional organizations, the National Association of the Deaf, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, and the Convention of American Instructors of…

Discusses calls for Head Start to expand its services for children from birth to three years and to devise standards for infants and toddlers. Recent policy decisions resulting in such expansion are discussed. The need for Head Start staff involved with infant and toddler care to be trained about infancy is considered in detail. (BG)

The special needs of young adults with concurrent mental health and substance abuse problems are discussed. This article presents federal initiatives and research findings, and describes state-of-the-art approaches to treatment and rehabilitation. Strategies for training mental health professionals to diagnose and treat dually disabled persons are…

Defaults on guaranteed student loans were examined in a sample of 4,617 students in proprietary vocational schools and community colleges in California. Default rates stemmed largely from students' background characteristics, rather than from characteristics or practices of the institutions they attend. (SLD)

A 1994 conference explored national issues and priorities related to school health nursing, identifying seven critical issues and related actions. Several papers discuss school nurse perspectives, federal agency efforts, issues, and priority actions. An annotated bibliography and information on National Nursing Coalition for School Health are…

Maintains that, if national geography standards are effective, issues-based instructional materials are needed. Reports on a study of the use of 3 modules on environmental education by 480 secondary students in 18 schools. Finds that the students made significant cognitive and skill gains. (CFR)