Reports results of a literature-based developmental reading program in a junior high school. Uses students' comments to reveal how their reading had changed and to report improvement in both reading and content area classes. Identifies beneficial program attributes: choice in reading material, interesting reading material, time given just for…

For 22 years, at 166 sites around the world, over 1 million teachers have been teaching each other in nearly identical National Writing Project summer institutes. This article discusses the lessons learned about teacher leadership, the qualities of worthwhile staff development, writing instruction, and educational reform's bumpy landscape. (MLH)

Shortly after implementing a mandatory school uniform policy, the Long Beach (California) Public Schools can boast 99% compliance and a substantial reduction in school crime. The uniforms can't be confused with gang colors, save parents money, and help identify outsiders. A sidebar lists ingredients for a mandatory uniform policy. (MLH)

This article examines the relationship between an adolescent with behavior disorders, his family, and the system of care, through a single case analysis. The methodology used to collect the case record and interview data and to analyze and graphically illustrate the data are presented to demonstrate use of qualitative data in program evaluation.…

Examined whether intervention provided to low-income parents of firstborn children produced delayed benefits for later children by studying younger siblings of children in a family-support program. Found that intervention group siblings had better school attendance, were less likely to need remedial services, and were more likely to be making…

Developed a "Fostering a Love of Nature Index" to provide "best practice" guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental education programs for young children. Research used in developing this index was drawn from both the early-childhood education literature and the environmental education literature.…

Reviews the history of workforce development in the United States and lists issues to frame public policy: governance structure, funding targets, quality measures, accountability, and data collection. Identifies current legislative initiatives: School-to-Work Opportunities Act, Goals 2000, and National Skills Standards Act. (SK)

"Walking the Talk" (Lozada) describes summer programs in which counselors enroll in summer school courses; "Teachers for Hire" (McClain) shows vocational teachers participating in an externship program updating their knowledge while earning graduate-level credit; and "Earning and Learning" (Lozada) tells how high school students take college-level…

A method is described for increasing residual degrees of freedom in a community experiment without substantially increasing cost or difficulty by dividing experimental subunits into batches. Theoretical advantages of batch sampling are described and illustrated with data from the Pawtucket Heart Health Program. (SLD)

Reviews research on the special characteristics of homeless, unaccompanied youth and innovative recreation programs that currently, or in the future, can serve them. The paper explains who the street children are and examines what recreation opportunities are available to fill in the gaps in the continuum of care for them. (SM)

Teachers and longitudinal researchers have observed that the long-term benefits of participating in a quality early childhood program are more social than academic. Early childhood is a unique stage of life, not an opportunity for intervention and remediation. Kindergarten and first-grade environments should be flexible, activity-oriented, and…

This review of the past 20 years in child abuse and neglect prevention discusses the effectiveness of both general and targeted prevention services, especially home visiting; 9 ingredients of a successful home visiting program; the need for additional resources to cover home visiting services; and cautions against overselling or underselling…

Focus groups of early intervention therapists, nontherapist professionals, administrators, and family members were interviewed to determine challenges to providing specialized therapies to young children with disabilities. Results indicated a perception that policy/administrative constraints and a shortage of pediatric therapists caused services…

Ten day students and 10 residential students with visual impairments in grades 3-5 participated in 18 weekly self-esteem building exercises. No intergroup differences in self-esteem were found, and data were inconclusive on the effectiveness of the self-esteem building activities. (CR)

Takes a critical look at various tendencies within the current generation of approaches to family literacy programs. Groups these tendencies into three broad categories: intervention prevention, multiple literacies, and social change. Notes a danger in glibly assigning any given program to one category or another. (RS)