A project investigated Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)-developed proposals designed to strengthen User Choice. (The ability of employers and employees to select a training provider of their choice, providing it is registered in their state or territory, is known as "User Choice.") Stage 1 analyzed the ACCI position,…

This guide to teaching children with oppositional and defiant behaviors presents key concepts and techniques illustrated by stories based on actual classroom cases. The guide is based on the principle that the teacher's own behavior can positively influence the student's reactions and offers practical advice on what approaches work and do not…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) alters federal-state relations by expanding the federal role further into a primary function of state and local governments and raises questions about how federal, state, and local policies interact--that is, conflict or reinforce each other. Early indications suggest that states are differently…

This report describes a program to improve student achievement through the use of music strategies. The targeted population was fifth-grade students in a small Iowa community. The absence of music integration into the social studies area was observed through data that displayed the lack of motivation and in-depth learning by the students. Analysis…

This paper examines ways in which context influences the implementation of high-stakes accountability systems. The trajectory of implementation efforts has followed a familiar course, with the emergence of scattered opposition prompting officials to "refine" testing systems in predictable ways. These efforts placate critics while softening the…

This is a report on a best practices conference conducted by the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges. The conference was designed to allow the 19 state community colleges to share their most valuable innovations, programs, services, and other ideas for enhancing community college instruction, administration, and overall effectiveness. The…

This mentor-mentee handbook is designed primarily for mentors working with faculty new to teaching in higher education. It describes mentoring as guiding someone through a developmental process. The author discusses the roles and functions of the mentor, pointing out that the mentor's goal should be to help the beginning faculty member develop and…

This annual report from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC) contains information on commission activities during 2000-2001. One of ACCJC's top priorities was Project Renewal, a "360-degree" examination of the commission and all of its operations. For this peer-based…

All-day kindergarten and class size reduction are two Ohio initiatives funded through Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA), a supplemental payment to school districts with substantial portions of families living in poverty. This report describes the extent to which districts implemented these programs and the challenges they faced during the…

The "Positive Action" model is a time-tested tool for achieving far-reaching school reform. The program's designed to reform and revitalize schools so that the needs of children are met. The Positive Action Program was developed for elementary schools and has been expanded for middle schools and high schools. The Positive Action Program is based…

This report offers a commentary on the recent development of community colleges in Shanghai (China). The seven institutions were established in the early 1990s to provide community education to local residents in hopes of facilitating mass higher education in China. The report describes important characteristics the colleges seek to impart…

This case study examined the influences of autonomy and uncertain expectations of accountability on the functioning of an urban charter school during its initial years of development. The school studied was a charter school in its second year of development that was attempting to measure student improvement in challenging areas such as social…

This paper discusses the findings of St. Petersburg College's (SPC) (Florida) evaluation question: "How can the eCampus be organized and run to address traditional faculty concerns, but maintain an innovative approach to providing educational access?" In order to evaluate this question, a list was compiled of faculty issues identified by…

This report discusses St. Petersburg College's (SPC) (Florida) evaluation question, "How can St. Petersburg College leverage technology to increase access to courses and programs for an expanded pool of learners?" The report summarizes both nationwide/worldwide best practices and current SPC efforts related to four strategies: (1) an…

This annual report describes the activities of the four Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Partnerships created by the Office of Special Education Programs to provide reliable information on IDEA. The Partnerships include: (1) the Associations of Service Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms in Education (ASPIIRE) Partnership; (2)…