This paper describes fraud and health risks to consumers from the unregulated weight control industry, reviews safe weight loss guidelines, notes the role of health educators, and argues for increased regulatory control measures. (SM)

Reviews statistics on delinquency, federal involvement in juvenile justice, delinquency issues, and research needs in the areas of academic and vocational instruction, transitions, placement, and corrections personnel. (SK)

Describes the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, designed to provide free or low-cost health insurance to children in uninsured families with low or moderate incomes. Outlines state innovations in providing outreach to eligible families. Maintains that active early-childhood community involvement is critical to state's efforts to reach…

Discusses the U.S. Department of Education's special projects competition for personnel preparation for those working with students who have attention deficit disorders. Profiles the 10 articles that follow on the preparation of teachers and related service providers to work with children and youth who have this disability. (CR)

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act offers no financial assistance to school systems serving disabled children. This article reviews Section 504's main provisions and examines questions arising when school districts confront the financial issues inherent in this law and discusses how added compliance costs can affect operations. (13…

The federal Department of Education will help college students save money on loan interest if they consolidate loans in the direct lending program while in college. Some college lobbyists feel the administration has not done enough to cut fees and help students and colleges and, as a result, may lose direct-loan participants to bank-loan programs.…

Explains 10 basic steps for librarians who are interested in applying for E-Rates, the Universal Service Fund financed by the telecommunications industry as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Provides discounts on technology services including telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections for all public and some…

Qualitative and quantitative data suggest that over the 10 years of Australia's National Training Reform Agenda initiatives, women in female-dominated occupations in nonprofessional, nonmanagerial jobs have fared less well than other workers. The goal of training for transferable skills has not been achieved for these women. (SK)

About 1,500 schools nationwide pay an estimated $200 million in federal funds to private enterprises claiming to provide better literacy instruction than the disappointing Title I results of the past 34 years. Programs run by Kaplan Inc., Success for All Foundation, Sylvan Learning Systems, and Reading Recovery Council are described. (MLH)

Discusses proposed legislation designed to improve the United States' education infrastructure. Outlines President Clinton's $5 billion school-construction initiative and describes areas in which the money can be used. Features interviews with Education Secretary, Richard Riley, and Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.), in which they discuss the…

A telephone survey was conducted among rural adolescents (N=414) to determine what demographic and theoretical factors from control, strain (or opportunity), and social learning theories predict occurrence of sexual intercourse and sexual partners. Sample characteristics, frequency distribution (dependent variables), and statistical…

The relationship between participation in national reform network activities and the quality of the Success for All program implementation is examined. Results of a research survey of principals and facilitators indicate that the success of the reform program relies on networking among teachers and schools through participation in national…

Examines the issue of whether or not federal government-generated databases reside in the public domain. Discusses a 1973 Supreme Court decision (Williams & Wilkins v. The United States), the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, and terms and conditions listed on various government databases. (MES)

After five years, the AmeriCorps program, a federal program designed to encourage youth to perform public service by providing substantial scholarships after completion, has been both praised as effective in getting things done and criticized as cost-ineffective. Some feel the money could have been better spent for federal grants or work-study…

The U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring the first national special-education expenditure study in nearly 15 years. A nationally representative sample including all states and 250 school districts will provide comprehensive and comparable data. Nine states will provide additional representative data to get a handle on their expenses. (MLH)