The efforts of states to differentiate regulatory treatment among districts and schools are examined in this paper. Data were derived from case studies of four state programs: Kentucky's Educational Deficiency Program of receivership for troubled districts; New Jersey's Plan to Intervene in Deficient School Districts; South Carolina's Flexibility…

This report evaluates the bilingual education policy of ten states (Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas), in which 86 percent of the nation's limited-English-proficient (LEP) students reside. The report answers frequently-asked questions about bilingual education, and…

The Massachusetts Workplace Literacy Consortium sought to upgrade work-related literacy skills at 22 partner sites in the state. Members included manufacturers, health care organizations, educational institutions, and labor unions. In its third year, the consortium served 1,179 workers with classes in English for speakers of other languages, adult…

Recognizing that clear standards and strong incentives alone are not sufficient to transform teaching, policymakers now discuss "capacity-building" strategies. An examination of capacity-building strategies in eight states is provided in this report. Capacity refers to the wherewithal needed to translate high standards and incentives…

The Georgia Information Outreach to Reduce Welfare Dependency Project began in January 1996. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), commissioned the Southern Institute on Children and Families to conduct the project. Phase 1 of the project focused on the development of three information outreach…

This report highlights one of six language arts case study teachers whose classroom was studied for a 2-day period to observe writing instruction, to ask questions about the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System assessments, and to talk with her students about their writing. In this paper, the focus is on questions and how this…

This paper presents a focused case study of Ann and Kay, a team of exemplary elementary teachers, as they worked to modify their mathematics instruction to be consistent with the goals of the Kentucky Education Reform Act and Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS), its innovative high-stakes assessment system. At the time of the…

In recent years, falling immunization rates in the United States have resulted in an increased number of cases of preventable diseases. For example, the United States ranks behind 16 other nations in proportion of infants immunized against polio. Reasons for the decline of immunizations include skyrocketing vaccine costs, rising poverty rates,…

This report contains standards of the Missouri School Improvement Program that outline the state's vision and expectations for quality schools. The expectations are nonprescriptive to allow each school district the flexibility and responsibility to provide quality education. The standards are presented in three sections: resource standards,…

This guide contains information about apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades, especially in North Carolina. The guide, modeled in part on the "Ohio Apprenticeship Notebook," opens with a general description of the system of apprenticeship, including an account of the role of the North Carolina Department of Labor. The next section…

During 1993, various teachers and schools in Indiana were recognized for high achievement with awards called "Bellringers," for educational efforts that truly "ring the bell." This "report card" documents the activities of the Indiana Department of Education for the 1992-1993 school year. The first section offers an…

The Connecticut School Effectiveness Program, a statewide voluntary school improvement program, is described in this report. Information is presented on program activities and services, accomplishments, and areas of concern. The first section discusses the system used to determine individual schools' eligibility for state technical assistance at…

This report describes states' use of federal maternal and child health services (MCH) block grant funds to support their children's medical services (CMS) programs. Program officials and appropriate documents in 10 states were reviewed. Although all states allocated MCH funds to CMS programs, they did not typically designate the funds for…

The state validation process in New York identifies promising practices developed through the Elementary Secondary Education Act Title IV-C funding. The new validation procedures included in this handbook are revised to: (1) make the evaluation process easier to apply; (2) provide technical assistance in evaluating the project; (3) extend…

To provide more equitable special education services for blind, deaf, physically handicapped, and autistic children in all parts of Oregon, a funding formula was developed at the direction of the 1981 state legislative assembly. The formula is based on development of a state approved funding level by handicap and by instructional delivery system…