Since 1991, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has signed cooperative agreements with 26 states to undertake ambitious and comprehensive initiatives to reform science, mathematics, and technology education. This effort to improve public education is known as the Statewide Systemic Initiatives (SSI). This brief presents some initial observations…

Intended as a reference for chambers of commerce, physicians, public schools, and other agencies, this directory lists services for families of people with mental retardation or related disabilities in South Carolina. First, the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation is described, including its service system, organization, case…

The California Department of Education awarded Amnesty Education Program funds to service providers to serve immigrant adults needing to fulfill legalization requirements by obtaining a Certificate of Satisfactory Pursuit, and to make available to immigrant adults education and training that would enable them to succeed in school and become more…

This chapter discusses delivery of special educational services in science and mathematics to gifted and talented students through residential, regional, and specialized schools. Examples are given of all of these types such as the first residential school, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, regional "Governor's Schools," and 29…

In 1992, the Illinois Community College Board forged new ground in accountability for higher education by adopting a plan for the implementation of educational guarantees. Guarantees demonstrate the community colleges' dedication to providing exemplary programs and service. Guarantees ensure that graduates of community college technical programs…

This report describes the mission, features, and recent trends of Colorado's extended campus programs, beginning with the Statewide Extended Studies Program which is the state's vehicle for the delivery of off-campus instruction and continuing education throughout Colorado. The primary purpose of the program is to extend the instructional…

This report reviews the outcomes of a forum convened to examine policy and practice issues surrounding the annual evaluation of effectiveness of programs and services for students with disabilities. At the forum, alternative approaches being used by states to implement program evaluation were discussed, along with issues in gathering…

This state plan for education of students with disabilities in New York provides information on how the state's provision of special education programs and services in the least restrictive environment complies with federal law and regulation (especially the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). The report describes planning and program…

This paper examines the complex web of state basic and categorical aid programs in New York, with particular attention to the components of basic aid. State aid to elementary-secondary education in New York is distributed through a four-point basic-aid program and over 30 categorical programs. The first part of the paper describes the components…

The purpose of this report is to inform New Jersey legislators, the governor, and other public officials about the status of child care in the state and to make recommendations that include government and private sector activities. An introductory section describes the structure of the New Jersey Child Care Advisory Council (CCAC) and lists the…

The First Impressions initiative was created in 1987 by Governor Roy Romer of Colorado to increase public awareness of the critical importance of the first 5 years of life, assist communities in developing effective programs for young children and their families, and influence early childhood policy and practice. In 1991-92, the priorities of…

This newsletter article describes early identification of children who have hearing impairments in Oregon. Oregon was selected to demonstrate a model system for early identification that had been developed in Utah. A new birth certificate was designed, which enabled the Oregon Health Division to screen for risk factors for hearing loss. A…

A Legislative Commission formed by the Nevada Legislature studied public elementary and secondary education in the state and made several recommendations. The state's Class-Size Reduction Program should be continued. The State Department of Education should study tracking of students in public schools. School districts should expand the…

This paper describes how the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is using constructivist theory and research to inform educational policy and practice. The state's most concentrated and comprehensive effort in this direction is Project Construct, a unified instructional approach for children ages 3-7. The project consists of…

This newsletter feature issue focuses on quality assurance and innovative efforts to enhance service quality for persons with developmental disabilities. Individual articles include: "Redesigning Quality Assurance" (Clarence J. Sundram); "Quality Assurance, Quality Enhancement" (Charlie Lakin et al.); "Challenging…