Provides an overview of issues and trends in school-age care. Topics discussed include (1) the population that needs care; (2) the providers of care; (3) challenges to providing care that relate to facility space, funding, affordability, staffing, and competition among providers; and (4) the future of school-age care. (HOD)

Explains the volume's goal of providing a framework for inquiry into the role of relationships between children and nonparental adults in children's development. Reviews the volume's seven articles, each of which addresses an important developmental question and has implications for policy and practice in child care and school settings. (BC)

Four mothers of children (ages 10-18) with learning disabilities were interviewed over a 1-year period. Their comments about services provided by educational and mental health professionals indicated high levels of frustration and dissatisfaction. Parental expectations and perspectives differed from those of educators. (Author/JDD)

Examines the reconceptualization of curriculum studies, noting responses to interpretation, praxis, and institutional change. Rejecting the traditional theory-practice split in education raises the challenge of how to design empowering curriculum practice. The article describes preservice teacher education based on a specific interpretation of…

The Holmes Group's concept of professional development schools challenges conventional assumptions about how practitioners acquire knowledge of educational practice and how theory and practice are related. This article examines these assumptions and their implications for administrator preparation in professional development schools by analyzing…

Examines the literature on ability grouping and cooperative learning. Solid research evidence supports both. Ability grouping and cooperative learning should be used to address particular student needs. Selecting a variety of educational options to match the needs of each student would be the best way to serve all students. (SLD)

Special education teachers (n=83) from five states were surveyed concerning difficulties in implementing various educational practices validated by researchers. Time constraints and administrative support were seen as major obstacles to implementation. The reported presence of quality indicators correlated with teacher skill and implementation…

Elementary and middle school teachers surveyed in rural South Dakota indicated that a combination of phonics, skills, and holistic instruction occurred most often in their reading programs. This suggests that most school districts take an eclectic approach to reading instruction and use the best components from various approaches. (LP)

Sixty-three New Zealand schools were surveyed concerning establishment of Support Teacher positions to assist children with special needs. Results are discussed in terms of drift from the support team model, differences between primary and secondary schools in model implementation, the importance of training, and the importance of an active…

The effects of a skill remediation program designed to improve students' observational skills were studied with 132 sixth-grade students (66 in the experimental group) from 3 cultural groups in Nigeria. The remedial treatment, which included practical experiences, enhanced students' acquisition of observational skills. (SLD)

Nine educators comment on the issue of programs meant to increase racial sensitivity among college freshmen. It can be argued that these programs increase racial tolerance, but some suggest that they may heighten students' awareness of racial differences and actually foster racial separatism. Others merely doubt the utility of the approach. (SLD)

Describes the educational philosophy and practices of the Sunrise Children's Center in Amherst, New Hampshire, which serves all children, both disabled and nondisabled, from the ages of two to six years. The description of the program is highlighted with stories of children in the center. (BB)

Discusses policies, legislation, educational practices, and innovative early childhood programs designed to revitalize the languages and cultures of Catalonia and the Basque Autonomous Region. Opposition to these practices and programs is also discussed. (BG)

The 1990 Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute addressed the theme "Funding Drives Service Decisions: A Moral Dilemma." Institute participants identified specific dilemmas related to legislation, funding, and placement issues in education and rehabilitation of visually handicapped individuals. Participants subsequently generated solutions in…

Research on cooperative learning is reviewed, with emphasis on issues related to the formation and implementation of cooperative learning groups. Theoretical bases for the efficacy of cooperative learning are presented. Specific suggestions are provided for implementing a collaborative approach to learning based on extant theory and research. (SLD)