This report reviews the current status, empirical findings, theoretical issues, and practical considerations related to state-level minimum competency testing programs. It finds that, although two-thirds of current testing programs now use direct writing prompts to assess writing achievement, essentially all programs rely on multiple choice tests…

This study was conducted to analyze student background characteristics and educational history data that affect participation and performance of non-English language background students, including those with limited English proficiency, on Minnesota's Basic Standards Test. Data were obtained from individual student cumulative files in six schools…

A project was conducted in Pennsylvania to provide technical support to the APEX nomination and awards activity that recognizes outstanding adult education practitioners. The project included a revision of the nomination form and procedures developed for APEX in 1998 to align them with Adult Teacher Competency Standards developed in 1999. The APEX…

This document consists of 12 consecutive issues of the monthly "Centennial State Libraries" newsletter, of the Colorado Department of Education State Library and Adult Education Office. The issues cover the year 1999. Each issue--except the August issue which is an Annual Report--includes some or all of the following sections: current…

In 1998 it became apparent that support for state assessments in Spanish at the elementary level was waning in Colorado, and it was likely that only an English-language version would be available for the grade 5 mathematics assessment in 1999. A study was conducted to provide empirical results to inform decisions regarding language accommodations…

The Institute for Education and Social Policy assessed the relationship between standards-based reform and the charter school movement in four states: Texas, Massachusetts, California, and Louisiana. These states were selected because they are the focus of other projects sponsored by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and because, as a group,…

This report discusses the results of a survey of 32 states and the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) regarding the reevaluation of students who are classified as having a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It summarizes provisions governing reevaluation in IDEA, describes the methodology of the…

This guide to the "Documents on Documents Collection" describes 223 documents gathered during 1984-95. The collection consists of materials used in the administration of state documents depository programs, including: (1) bibliographies; (2) commentaries and letters; (3) depository contracts; (4) forms and form letters; (5) labels; (6)…

This paper details the structure and eligibility criteria for the two largest public child care subsidy programs in Minnesota, the Minnesota Family Investment Program Statewide (MFIP-S) and the Basic Sliding Fee Program (BSF). These programs assist low-income families to pay for child care in order for parents to work, search for a job or…

This document presents the consensus statement of a 2-day conference which addressed issues concerned with the early identification of hearing impairment. The conference resulted in the following consensus conclusions: (1) all infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit should be screened for hearing loss prior to discharge; (2) universal…

This Massachusetts Long-Range Plan was developed to set broad strategic direction for the use of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, to inform Massachusetts libraries of these directions, and to meet the statutory requirement. This plan details specific goals and objectives that support the stated mission: to provide every resident…

This plan is intended to: summarize for the Board of Regents, the State Education Department, New York State libraries, agencies and organizations with an interest in library services, and interested citizens of the State, the goals, priorities, activities, and evaluation methodology of the programs undertaken for the improvement of library…

This report provides an overview of selected state strategies for addressing personnel shortages in the area of visual impairments. Innovative or alternative routes to certification in six states (Texas, Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia) are profiled to give specific examples of state approaches to personnel preparation and…

In 1993, Project FORUM issued a report (Ahearn, 1993) that provided information on resources available to states and districts in accessing Medicaid reimbursements for services for students with disabilities, a relatively new source of funding at that time. It is now over 10 years since Medicaid funds were approved for use for special education…

This field memo is the third in a series of updates from the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education to all teachers and administrators of public and nonpublic schools on standards and assessments in New York. This document explains how the New York State Education Department determines if test…