This report presents the results of an assessment of social studies in the state of Massachusetts. From 240 to 390 test items were administered to all students in grades 4, 8, and 12. The test covered history, government/citizenship, geography, sociocultural environment, economics, multicultural environment, social studies process skills, and…

This annual report provides an overview of activities that New York's Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) undertook from October 1, 1990, to September 30, 1991, to promote the employment and independence of individuals with disabilities in New York State. Following introductory messages by three…

School choice policies allow parents to exercise an active role in selecting the school or educational program their children attend. This report reviews development of school choice policies at the national and state levels. Rationales for school choice programs and key components of these programs are noted. Eight types of school choice programs…

This report which describes state systems for financing special education programs for school-age children with disabilities, is based on a is based on a national survey of state directors of special education during the 1992-93 school year. Emphasis is on determining state funding formulas, recognizing that many states are currently in various…

This report summarizes Colorado student aid program expenditures for 1992-93. The report reveals that: (1) the Colorado General Assembly provided $37.2 million for Colorado student aid programs for the 1992-93 fiscal year; (2) the total number of state aid awards and the average award increased in 1992-93 to an average of $908; (3) financial aid…

Applying the philosophy that strategic partnerships are the most effective way to share knowledge, skills, and resources, emerging community corrections adult education programs and existing community adult education service providers have begun to forge critical linkages. In Texas, the law now requires assessment of the educational level of all…

This guide, developed through the Consortium to Restructure Education through Academic and Technological Excellence (CREATE), a partnership among high schools, a vocational-technical center, a community college, and universities in Oklahoma, presents information, resources, and examples for development and implementation of a tech prep program in…

This report documents the failure of the educational and mental health systems to meet the needs of children with severe emotional disturbances and provides a guide for advocates at both the state and local levels. Part 1 identifies priorities obtained through a national survey and reports major thrusts, including a wider array of services,…

The RAND Institute on Education and Training has undertaken an analysis of Federal policy options to improve education in low-income areas. Volumes I and II, separately published, have assessed the current Chapter I program and presented a strategy for reformulating the program with commentaries by invited contributors. This volume assesses…

The Texas Skills Development Program (TSDP) is a key long-term strategy of the Smart Jobs initiative that will assist Texas business, industry, and labor in conveying job skill requirements to the public education and training system. Employers feel that job applicants do not have the basic reading, writing, and computation skills they need. TSDP…

New federal money for child care, flowing to the states as a result of the landmark 1990 child care legislation, titled the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, has prompted states to make significant improvements in state child care programs and policies. Based on a national survey conducted in 1993 by the Children's Defense Fund (CDF),…

The Talk to a Literacy Learner (TTALL) program was developed in response to a New South Wales (Australia) government initiative, and is designed to focus on parents and the strategies they use to interact with their children as they read and write. An 8-week parent workshop on literacy development and a community tutor program trained selected…

During 1992, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare instituted several new collaborative projects to increase training opportunities for child care employees in the state: (1) to assure that high quality training would continue to be offered; (2) to respond to the mandate for ongoing training for all child care workers; and (3) to subsidize…

The purpose of this document is to help communities and school districts determine whether a combined school and public library will be the best way to provide the most efficient library service for all community residents. A combined school and public library is one that is located in a single facility and operates cooperatively to perform the…

This report examines the issue of educational choice in detail, beginning with a historical review and concluding with a look at the future of choice in the United States. Focusing on both opposing and supporting sides of the debate, this report examines equity issues, including access to information, adequate and appropriate transportation, fair…