Chapters in this volume are based on papers presented at the Second Missouri Symposium on Research and Educational Policy (Columbia, Missouri) March 30-31, 1995), but the collection is not a report of symposium proceedings. Instead, these papers provide readers with an understanding of the gendered nature of schooling and educational policy at…

As part of a sabbatical leave for professional development, a faculty member from Missouri's St. Louis Community College (SLCC) undertook a survey to determine principles and instructional practices in community college writing programs. A literature review was conducted of theories related to writing instruction. In addition, questionnaires were…

Focusing on efforts at community colleges to demonstrate institutional effectiveness, this monograph presents findings from a survey of 147 colleges regarding accountability practices and showcases seven colleges with effective accountability programs. The first chapter, "Focusing on the Problem: Accountability and Effectiveness in the Community…

The use of performance assessment for instruction and accountability and the support for its use provided by the school district were studied in three suburban school districts in Colorado, New York, and Illinois. Two were elementary and secondary districts, but the Illinois district was a high school district. All three districts have employed…

This report examines efforts in Idaho to provide transition information and planning to secondary students with disabilities and their families. It offers an ideal profile of best transition practices. It then reports on a survey of 247 teachers, 170 principals, and 105 special education directors/superintendents in Idaho. The survey examined: (1)…

This digest, in question and answer format, summarizes what is known about effective ways to provide fully educational services for gifted students in the regular classroom. The following questions are addressed: What are the steps to full service? (educators need to plan environments in which all students can fully develop their abilities and…

The Mid-South Educational Research Association is a non-profit organization that exists to encourage quality educational research in the mid-south and to promote the applications of such research in the schools. These proceedings contain abstracts of the discussion sessions, display sessions, symposia, and training sessions of the 1992 annual…

One of the most significant distance education developments within the Pacific region in recent years has been the diminishing quality and increasing inequality created by ad hoc competition. Four views of quality are relevant: (1) quality has no existence as an absolute, it is inseparable from context, always relative; (2) indicators for quality…

A project was undertaken at the University of South Australia to improve the understandings of tertiary lecturers and student teachers about disadvantaged schools as contexts for literacy pedagogy. The project conducted seminars and workshops on the nature of the relationship among literacy, poverty, and education. The project resulted in…

This handbook is intended to aid in development of educational programs for gifted students in New Hampshire. The handbook is divided into seven sections. Section I, provides material regarding the specific policies that authorize and pertain to gifted education in New Hampshire and offers resources to assist educators in describing the present…

This guide describes a quality process for external and internal evaluation of the elementary school education department. The term "pathway" is used to define routes through the quality process that describe any school administrative activity in terms of the indicators and examples of good practice. There are five pathways: process…

This document provides a compilation of information presented at the "Cause for Applause" conference sponsored by the Urban Education Network of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) and the Chicago (Illinois) public schools. The first section, "Strategies for Urban School Improvement," describes programs…

This report explores various ways to increase the relevance of education for health care professionals as a strategy for improving the quality of health care and increasing access to services. Noting that the health work force can account for up to 70 percent of the health budget, the report concentrates on innovations in education that can make…

This book describes the steps and tools of Total Quality Management (TQM) and their use in the academic units of colleges and universities for Total Quality Improvement (TQI), illustrated by a case study from the School of Arts & Sciences at a state university. Section 1 explains how to: (1) identify problems contributing to non-value-added…

This research brief highlights data from surveys of college administrators on the status of assessment policies and practices. The surveys addressed approaches to assessment, external mandates prompting assessment activity, skills or outcomes that are being assessed, assessment methods and procedures, and use of assessment results. The surveys…