Educational reform is becoming synonymous with accountability. However, designing an effective accountability system poses serious challenges for states as is clear from the progress and pitfalls experienced by states such as Texas, Kentucky, and California. For example, many states tend to overload their new accountability programs, resulting in…

This paper focuses on effective transition-to-school programs. Using a framework of 10 guidelines developed through the Starting School Research Project, the paper provides examples of effective strategies and transition programs. In this context, the nature of some current transition programs is questioned, and the curriculum of transition is…

The increasing number of students who enter U.S. schools from homes where languages other than English are spoken, and the recognition that proficiency in non-English languages is a valuable national resource, have generated interest in the field of heritage language instruction. A heritage language student is a language student who is raised in a…

Written for those who will educate future counselors and psychotherapists, this book marks out a vision for counselor and psychotherapist training for the postmodern era. The book details specific practices that are grounded in constructivist and developmental principles including approaches to classroom instruction, field supervision, curriculum,…

What are the common tasks facing cities committed to saturating their city with high quality out-of-school opportunities, available to every young person? While no list is definitive or complete, we identify ten critical tasks. (Background and Contact information is appended. Contains 5 footnotes and 9 figures.)

This directory profiles 60 secondary school programs designed to accommodate the educational needs of immigrant students with low level English and/or native language skills, and often a background of limited formal schooling in their native countries. Most are intended as transitional programs, attended until the student can be placed in the…

This Digest examines the key issues surrounding the implementation of schoolwide reform. It discusses how whole-school reform results can be dramatic but that schools must take special care with implementing the reforms. It examines the importance of outside assistance in reform efforts and reports that design teams are typically used by schools…

This publication of the National Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education presents members' achievements in developing exemplary programs in the year 2000. Seven programs were identified for their ability to enrich the educational experience of college students. The programs demonstrate the spirit of innovation and resourcefulness and…

This paper summarizes lessons learned from the creation and operation of a National Science Foundation-sponsored Engineering Education Coalition, the Southeastern University and College Coalition for Engineering Education (SUCCEED). Specific operational issues addressed include planning, organization, leadership, operations, support, participant…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a multi-site, multi-state outreach training project that used information generated from a proven model of exemplary practices previously funded by an early childhood education model demonstration program. The outreach training and technical assistance was developed in conjunction with…

Early intervention programs are a continuing focus of public interest and debate; questions center around defining quality in early intervention and how intervention affects children's lives. This paper reviews research on center-based early childhood education programs for children between birth and school entry that emphasize school readiness as…

Most organizations find it difficult to implement change, and only about 10 percent of learning from training and development experiences is actually applied in the workplace. This book advocates facilitation as a means of enhancing change and increasing productivity. Facilitation engages employees by enhancing the processes associated with their…

Currently at least 5 million children--some estimates are as high as 15 million--are left unsupervised before or after school for 3 or more hours a day. In response to the problems of these latchkey children, many public schools are now developing some form of school-based or school-related before- and after-school child care programs. The purpose…

This handbook provides guidance to schools operating Community-based Vocational Education (CBVE) programs for students with disabilities and encourages the adoption of CBVE programs by schools not presently using this approach. By following the information and examples contained in this handbook, schools can proceed with confidence to operate…

This collection of conference papers examines some of the broad issues as well as specific institutional approaches to postbaccalaureate certificate programs. The first paper, "A Survey of Graduate Certificate Policies, Procedures, and Programs" (Wayne Patterson), reports on a survey of the members of the Council of Graduate Schools…