This monograph examines policy formation practices of the Illinois International Education Policy Study Committee (PSC) concerning implementation of the Illinois Higher Education International Education Act. In the first section, a review of the literature on various aspects of policy and policy considerations is offered including a definition of…

This paper proposes that the American Psychological Association establish a standard model of training for doctoral programs in clinical psychology requiring a specific number of credits, along with specific course recommendations appropriate for practice in the 21st century. This model should reflect the impact of psychology on the biological…

Since 1989, the North Central Association has required accredited institutions to develop programs that assess student academic achievement and reemphasized the role of general education (GE) as a central requirement for degree programs. At Wisconsin's Madison Area Technical College (MATC), these requirements presented four related challenges:…

Change is the new status quo in higher education and nowhere is the pressure of change stronger than in student affairs. Some of the innovations and trends confronting student affairs professionals are explored in this paper. Cognitive and affective aspects accompany change, and it is stressed that organizational changes must occur in a safe…

What does it mean to be a "good" school district? What are the actions needed to establish a culture of continuous and long-term improvement? This document was written for school and district leaders interested in exploring how to frame and understand accountability for quality. It explores what it really means for a school district to hold itself…

This monograph reviews the emerging emphasis on learning in education and the development of the concept of "learning colleges," providing specific case studies of reform efforts at community colleges. Following introductory materials, chapters 1-6, all authored by Terry O'Banion discuss the following: Chapter 1 discusses the wave of educational…

This guidebook offers strategies for creating a district context that is conducive to initiating and sustaining school improvement. Designed to provide resources for those working at school district level, the five stages of the school-improvement process are based on effective-schools research--organize, focus, analyze, develop, and…

This report describes a program for improving the motivation of sixth grade students in the music class and for increasing their understanding of the relevancy of music in their total curriculum. The students are part of a low to middle class suburban community located in northeastern Illinois. The problem was noted originally by the music teacher…

This background paper for a policy forum provides a framework for discussing the issue of determining eligibility for special education programs and services according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Included is a review of the role of assessment in special education, concerns about assessment practices, and constraints…

In its present form, distance education overcomes the situational (geographic and/or time) barriers to education faced by consumers because of their family and work responsibilities. Disadvantaged adults often experience additional dispositional (attitude) and cultural barriers that are not well addressed by distance programs. Making distance…

According to a 1994 survey of higher education administrators and state politicians, the following are perceived as the biggest problems facing American higher education in the next millennium: meeting increased demands at a time of decreased resources; increasing or maintaining access; using technology more efficiently; and sharing resources…

The case study described here was conducted as a doctoral research project at Northern Arizona University. The study documents the success of the Shuswop Indian Band of Alkali Lake, British Columbia (Canada), in their 15-year battle with alcoholism, once the people themselves decided on recovery. The study looks back at the 95 percent recovery…

Finding ways to improve the assessment of beginning teachers is part of an effort to assure that fully certified teachers possess the professional knowledge and skills necessary for competence in contemporary classrooms. Research done by the California New Teacher Project (CNTP) suggests that some knowledge and skills cannot be fully learned in…

Project RETAIN (Retention in Education Technical Assistance and Information Network) is a Florida project to assist school districts through identification and dissemination of effective practices that keep students with mild disabilities in school. One part of the project attempted to establish a consensus among experts in the fields of…

This document describes a policy forum convened to consider the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The forum focused on three critical issues: (1) categorical eligibility, (2) initial assessment, and (3) triennial assessment. For the topic of categorical eligibility, comments are summarized in five sections:…