Describes the development and operation of the teaching-consultation program of the University of Kentucky Community College System. This program provides faculty members with an opportunity to analyze their teaching behavior and make changes by working with full-time faculty colleagues who act as consultants. (DB)

A study examined the rate of participation of Hawaiian students with disabilities in state-wide assessments in grades three, six, eight, and ten. Results found that roughly 64% of all students with disabilities were assessed in 1995. Most students who were excluded from testing were those with severe disabilities. (Author/CR)

Indiana is moving ahead to develop standards and tie them to the vocational curriculum. The state's Essential Skills and Technical Proficiencies Initiative is considered a leader among skill standards efforts. (Author/JOW)

Notes that California undertook a new commitment to improve the basic reading skills of its elementary students; lists several components of this commitment, the "California Reading Initiative." Describes the state's definition of a balanced and comprehensive approach to reading. Argues that independent reading is a crucial component and…

Evaluated the effect of the League of Professional Schools, a democratic reform in Georgia, using performance measures from the state's educational performance measurement system. Performance of League schools was positive relative to several performance standards, but it was not possible to demonstrate that the League was a necessary component of…

Examines how states are handling aged, overcrowded, and obsolete school facilities. Includes interviews with the directors of facility programs in Arizona, Ohio, and West Virginia to see what works and what doesn't work in state-run programs that seek to strike a balance between state money and local control. (GR)

The phasing out of the Teacher Performance Assessment Instrument (TPAI) in Georgia is described, with particular attention to litigation involving a teacher who lost her certificate after failing the TPAI. Other reasons for phasing out the TPAI are discussed. (SLD)

Presents case studies of four exemplary schools as they worked to meet the demands of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and the assessment system, the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System. Finds that the ways schools met the challenges were unique to each site, but outlines aspect common to teachers in all four sites. (SLD)

Addresses the impact of technology-driven change, especially as it relates to South Dakota, its citizens, and their future. Discusses the impact and peripheral consequences of technology; accepting, managing, and leading change; and rural revitalization and the quality of life. Outlines critical new mindsets, involving technology-driven change,…

Explores why California's ambitious new aid program, Cal Grants, misses its goals and shortchanges older students; millions in grants go unused while students complain of having eligibility taken away. (EV)

Explores the following aspects of state prekindergarten initiatives: (1) states take varied approaches to prekindergarten initiatives; (2) state policy decisions impact availability of programs; (3) many factors influence program quality; (4) barriers make programs inaccessible to some families; (5) collaboration efforts promote coordination at…

To develop a statewide evaluation tool for parenting education programs, domains of successful parenting were identified using a nominal group process involving county extension faculty. Indicators for five domains were developed and pilot tested with nearly 400 parents. The resulting instrument was easy to use and produced reliable results that…

Analyzed a 4-year data set from the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, the state's required high school test, using effect size as the measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Findings show that meeting AYP will be a problem of defining the standard as yearly score fluctuations occur. (SLD)

This article presents a conceptual framework that was developed to guide a national evaluation of the American Legacy Foundation's (Legacy) Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use (SYMATU) program. This program was designed to develop youth-led, youth-directed initiatives within local communities. Two evaluation studies were designed and…

This report offers an examination of the impact of Nebraska Reading First on comprehension across the first three years of implementation in the state. Grade level performance is defined as performance at or above the 40th percentile using grade level standards. Within each grade level section reading comprehension achievement is shown for all…