Describes the difficulties involved with bringing about substantive change in schools. Claims that ancillary programs often fail to change much within schools. Advocates the critical examination of any program proposal, and lists the most valuable questions administrators must ask about proposed change. (HB)

Presents a cost-benefit analysis of a supported-employment program using natural support strategies to assist 59 workers with severe disabilities in integrated employment settings. Results suggest substantial benefits to participants, the taxpayer, and society resulting from the choice of a natural support approach over the sheltered workshop…

A study involving three adults with mental retardation found engagement in typical adult activities was greater when picture schedules were provided. The schedules provided a reminder for the adults and teaching counselors, provided an easy reference to assist them in determining the next activity, and reduced transition time between activities.…

The Appalachia Educational Laboratory designed and implemented a long-term staff development program to increase and sustain teacher knowledge of and use of classroom questioning techniques to produce higher levels of student learning. Evaluations from 41 middle and secondary schools establishing the effectiveness of this program are reported .…

Suggests guidelines for schools that are developing volunteer tutoring programs to help young children who are at risk for reading failure. Discusses the "America Reads Challenge," and what is known about volunteers. Discusses several components essential to the success of tutoring programs in reading. (SR)

This study examined effects of group communication treatment on the linguistic and communicative performance of 24 adults with chronic aphasia. Participants received five hours of group communication treatment weekly provided by a speech-language pathologist. Participants had significantly higher scores on communicative and linguistic measures…

Describes the ESP Model for Learning program, a supervisor leadership program that ties training to the performance goals of the work unit. The ESP program's most critical component, the Supervisory Competency Assessment Process, is detailed. Concluding comments discuss what is being learned from the program's results, and the work-related…

Describes a national project to recognize child care programs that succeed in balancing competing interests of staff, children, and families. Discusses lessons learned from 10 selected programs, including using funding beyond parent fees, educating parents about program costs, advocating by the director, professionalizing staff, tailoring parent…

The status of career guidance for the long-term unemployed is reviewed. Participants (N=58) in Skillshare training programs (Australia) were studied. Findings describing attitudes and characteristics before and after intervention, satisfaction with the program, and qualitative evaluation results are reported. Graduates can generate more career…

Analyzes significant phenomena observed while developing and implementing Hong Kong's school-based management policy. Findings from an evaluation of 12 schools revealed that major SBM program components (teacher and parent participation, systematic planning and reporting of school activities, and flexible resource use) can contribute to school…

Identifies major issues in current research on child sexual-abuse prevention including the effectiveness of assessment methods, potential side-effects of prevention programs, the developmental appropriateness of programs, the differential effectiveness of presenters of prevention materials, parental involvement in sexual-abuse prevention efforts,…

Describes a training program for adults (average age 80 years) involving weekly meetings with a mentor who helped subjects visit Web sites. Finds that those who learned to surf the Internet had more positive attitudes toward aging, and higher levels of perceived social support and connectivity. Associates participation in the four-month program…

The use of a self-operated auditory prompting system by a 12-year-old student with autism and moderate mental retardation to decrease inappropriate and off-task behavior was examined. Results indicated a significant decrease in the number of teacher-delivered prompts required by the student to engage in appropriate behaviors and remain on task.…

Outlines six successful components of effective programs serving special-needs students in alternative-education settings, with particular emphasis on the mandates of the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (SR)

Investigates relationships among students' engagement in five selected programmatic practices in 62 Missouri middle schools and student satisfaction with school. Although a curriculum based on young adolescents' developmental needs predicts students' satisfaction with school, more specific program concepts do not correlate with student…