This study concerns how intra-organizational networks affect the implementation of policies and practices in organizations. In particular, we attend to the role of the informal subgroup or clique in cultivating and distributing locally adapted and integrated knowledge, or know-how. We develop two hypotheses based on the importance of…

Universal screening enables service providers and families to quickly identify difficulties and implement strategies that are likely to lessen the probability of longterm negative outcomes including severe persistent challenging behaviors. The practice of universal screening is in line with the prevention approach that is the foundation of the…

Online learning is a complex undertaking that holds great potential as a teaching and learning mode that public colleges and universities may strategically employ to achieve broad institutional priorities and contribute to the attainment of national goals. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities- (APLU) Sloan National Commission on…

The General Concerns Inventory: Least Restrictive Environment was administered to superintendents, special education coordinators, and principals from 60 Alabama school districts. Of 4 factors (social/personal concerns, staff and curriculum concerns, fiscal concerns, and legal concerns), only social/personal concerns discriminated among the 3…

This report summarizes the results of a feasibility study of the Bay Area Literacy Referral Network (BALRN), a local literacy referral system established in 1985 by the coordinators of the 13 Bay Area literacy projects, which in turn were established by the California Literacy Campaign initiated in 1983. Funded with Library Services and…

These guidelines were developed to assist school administrators who have the responsibility of organizing a one- to three-day professional development program. The first section outlines the tasks involved in planning and implementing a workshop. The remaining sections cover the following: (1) developing and utilizing the workshop theme; (2)…

The Gifted and Talented Program (GAT) of the Mellon Junior High School, Mt. Lebanon School District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was evaluated in 1985. Questionnaires were sent to 139 parents and 50 academic teachers. In addition, 9 teachers, 4 administrators, and 12 parents were interviewed. Responses were summarized in detail regarding 14 topics,…

This guide, which was adapted from a 1987 evaluation guide for bilingual vocational training, is intended for directors, staff, and evaluators of local adult and vocational education programs. It presents an overall framework that program staff and evaluators can use to help establish the scope of their evaluations and meet their local evaluation…

This manual provides information for pastors, parents, and church members who are starting a child care program in their church, and for churches that are changing or expanding their child care program. Chapter 1 reports the results of a 1982 survey of child care in local parishes by the National Council of Churches. Chapter 2 explains four steps…

A study assessed cooperative vocational education programs since enactment of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1976. During the study, questionnaires were administered to training sponsors, teacher-coordinators, and students from 80 high schools in Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Virginia. All vocational program areas were included…

This study examines local, ongoing inservice practices and programs for school board members in Pennsylvania in order to devise a program that local districts can adapt or adopt in response to their own needs. Following a brief introduction, a summary describes how data for the study were gathered by means of a series of interviews and…

This booklet is a description of a model program developed to improve the status of transitional black women in the southeastern United States. These women are defined as under- or unemployed, poor, undereducated, migrant, or household heads, unaware of specialized educational and occupational opportunities available to them, and/or unable to take…

This document is a guide to the use of alternative assessments (surveys, interviews, observation measures, and performance samples) in a family literacy project. This resource guide focuses on using alternative approaches to identify learners' needs, determine learners' ongoing progress in meeting project objectives, ascertain overall success of…

A needs assessment instrument was developed to aid rural (upstate New York) school officials in implementing staff development programs and determining special staff development needs for serving handicapped students in the mainstream. Survey responses were gathered from 85 elementary and secondary teachers in 3 school districts over 2 counties.…

The Florida Extern Leadership Training Program for Local Administrators of Vocational Education was conceived to meet the need for trained and certified leadership personnel in vocational education at the local level throughout Florida. During the third year of the project's operation, project staff implemented a training program to meet state…