This monograph is composed of papers from the first National Conference on School Recognition Programs. School recognition programs vary considerably, but they do acknowledge schools that perform well (winners) and have recognizable public relations value. Consequently, school recognition programs have substantial potential for educational…

Accountability is high on the education reform agenda as taxpayers, business leaders, and elected officials demand proof of results. Although several states show promising improvements in their accountability arrangements, none has in place a comprehensive system. Such a system includes three fundamental accountability elements: (1) clear and…

The plan describes a continuing effort in Illinois to improve access to education and school success for homeless children and youth. The Illinois plan was revised to meet the requirements of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1987 by reforming the original document into sections that highlight the major requirements of…

Outcomes of the Orchard Plan, an experiment designed to reorganize funding to support new models of instructional delivery, are described in this report. Basic elements of the program include an extended school calendar; a reorganization of categorical funding into intersession enrichment courses for at-risk students; a reduction in class size…

This report presents a plan for an Educational Assessment and Accountability System for Hawaii. The purpose of this plan is to provide an analytical as well as a descriptive account of the condition of public education in Hawaii. It is meant to be a vehicle to provide the means by which educational outcomes can be examined in light of contextual…

This document briefly describes school improvement opportunities in Michigan, including 19 projects, programs, grants, and plans for school improvement in grades K-12; 2 accreditation processes; 2 school improvement opportunities for intermediate school districts; and 3 opportunities for professional development. Each description contains…

The 1989-90 activities of New York City Public Schools' Special Education Training and Resource Center (SETRC), supported by the New York State Education Department, are reviewed and evaluated. The resource center program was designed to provide training to regular, special, and occupational education personnel; parents; and support services staff…

Thirty-five state plans for the education of homeless children and youth as mandated by the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act are reviewed and analyzed in this report. Specifically, the act requires that states designate agency authorization for a child's educational placement, procedures for placement dispute resolution, assurances…

This report describes federal, California state, and private student financial aid programs; ways to improve chances of receiving aid; and programs for special populations. Information is provided on the following sources of aid: (1) federal (Pell Grants, National Direct Student Loans (NDSL), Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG),…

A general summary is presented of the activities of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges during a 3-year project to revitalize the humanities in Washington's public community colleges. After introductory material, the Center's activities are described according to major functions, including: (1) to design and conduct a statewide survey…

A study examined adult participation in lifelong learning activities in California. During the project, 354 telephone interviews were conducted with adults in nine cities in California. About 42 percent of those interviewed had participated in at least one course, class, or other organized learning activity during the previous year. As compared to…

During the 1981-82 school year, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), collected mathematics data from school districts throughout the state of Michigan. AAUW is involved in a study of high technology and wanted to find out how education is preparing young people for the world of robotics, biotechnology, telecommunications, and the…

The primary purpose of the 1983 Statewide Testing Program was to assess the achievement of 4th, 7th, and 10th grade students in South Carolina public schools. The results from the Statewide Testing Program provide educators with information which facilitates the decision-making process at the State, district, and school levels. Besides the…

The report summarizes activities provided in Ohio through Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act during fiscal year 1982, and provides basic statistics and information on participation trends, instructional impact, expenditure and staffing patterns, inservice education for staff, parent involvement, and 5-year trends. Programs…

Diverse low-cost, innovative, and successful state initiatives for school improvement have been developed over the last five years. Generated by public pressures for accountability, many states' increased capacity for policy analysis, and insights gained during 15 years of administering categorical grant programs, the initiatives include: programs…