A nationwide survey in 1984 asked teachers their opinions on a variety of reform suggestions for educational improvement. As a followup this survey sought to determine what the states were actually doing about these reforms. In the area of teacher-related reforms, information is provided on actions taken in each state on: (1) teacher compensation;…

Available data reviewed in this paper suggest that at least 30% of elementary and secondary school students in the United States are educationally disadvantaged, and that the proportion will rise rapidly in the future. When these youth reach adulthood, their poor educational foundations will have deleterious economic and social consequences,…

Options for states in addressing questions relating to use of the Title III dislocated worker program of the Job Training Partnership Act are discussed. Two broad subjects are emphasized: short-term actions for aiding workers and communities suffering from economic dislocation and longer-term strategies to integrate displaced worker employment and…

State educational reform plans during the last year have often included incentive programs for teachers and school administrators. A variety of terms are associated with the various plans--career ladders, differentiated staffing, pay for performance, and master teacher programs. Rewards may be based on outstanding performance in the classroom,…

Synopses are presented of nine recent reports on educational reform in the United States: (1) "Who Will Teach Our Children?"; (2) "What Works: Research About Teaching and Learning"; (3) "Tomorrow's Teachers: A Report of the Holmes Group"; (4) "A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century"; (5) "What Next? More Leverage for Teachers"; (6)…

This report describes new major education initiatives to enhance economic development in New York State. The 1970-1987 period has seen dramatic change in the labor profile impelled by technological and market forces transforming the economy. Apart from some fairly stable sectors, the state economy is characterized by a shift from manaufacturing to…

The concept of access is central to any discussion of issues confronting the community college. The search for creative and effective ways of pursuing access involves examining institutional practices and state policies to define access in a way that will satisfy the need for acceptable standards and quality. Issues to be addressed in searching…

This booklet on youth employment explores what States can do and are doing to expand employment opportunities and prepare youth for work. The solutions presented cut across the traditional lines separating education policy from employment and training policy. Coordinated action needed in both areas are identified, and an overview of problems,…

Enactment of South Carolina's Education Improvement Act of 1984 taught several lessons about successful education reform. The law provides for raising student performance by increasing academic standards; strengthening the teaching and testing of basic skills; elevating the teaching profession; improving leadership, management, and fiscal…

In late 1982 Mississippi passed a massive school improvement program shaped around the effective schools concept as defined by Ron Edmonds. The characteristics of effective schools identified by Edmonds and made the cornerstone of the Mississippi legislation were that (1) the principal is a strong instructional leader; (2) the school has an…

Most of California's farms are relatively small, family run operations, and their future has been called into question by current agricultural trends. The Small Farm Viability Planning Project was initiated to identify obstacles to small farm economic viability and make recommendations to the state on policies and actions that might reduce these…

Findings are presented of a survey of state and territorial boards of education and materials submitted by the states to compile existing board policies and resolutions, rules and regulations state statutes, and administrative directives relating to career education. The report is divided into five sections: survey results, policy statements,…

This report on desegregation includes an article by Senator M. Morris Jackson concerning desegregation in Ohio, and several brief reports on desegregation trends in California, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington. Senator Jackson's article discusses the findings of Ohio's Joint Select Committee on School Desegregation, a bipartisan…

This address points up the critical educational challenge facing state governments today. Stressing the notion of partnership between the Federal and state governments, it notes that states have particularly important opportunities for action in the areas of finance, administration, and leadership. State governments must establish a minimum…

In this speech it is pointed out that New Jersey assumes only 21 percent of the cost of education and, thus, has relatively little control over educational quality at the local level. To compensate for the wide discrepancies which, as a result, occur in schools, the state must set minimum standards of educational quality and must tax sufficiently…