To address key policy and programmatic questions and help improve student and system performance, states must work to link data across the early childhood, postsecondary and workforce (P-20/workforce) spectrum and share this information with appropriate stakeholders. This issue brief highlights current efforts in California, Florida, Indiana, and…

The extent to which state agencies are implementing information systems and analytical methods for budget review are examined. Focus is on 17 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Trends in budget…

This report is a compilation of several regional forums held in Texas (Longview, McAllen, El Paso, Dallas, Lubbock, Houston, and Austin) by the Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD) concerning the needs and problems of young children. The report is divided into five sections: an introduction to the early childhood development planning…

Intended as an orientation guide, this manual presents information on library network operations for use by staff and advisory council members of the Texas Library System. The first chapter describes the role of systems in public library development in Texas, with a delineation of the history of Texas library systems, a chronology of related…

The study was commissioned for two purposes: (1) to document the specific needs for continuing education and community service in Texas and (2) to develop a plan through which needed post-secondary education could be made available to adults. The goals of continuing education and community service revolve around new opportunities for all groups,…

This final report describes a project that identified the core components of a model program for the delivery of career guidance and counseling to all students at grades 7-12 and then developed and implemented the program. Project activities included selection and use of an advisory committee, provision of inservice training, program development,…

This study identified skills that should be taught in the agricultural mechanics area of production vocational agriculture courses in Texas high schools. The data were obtained from questionnaires given to 50 young farmers who had been recognized by the State Association of Young Farmers of Texas for outstanding farming programs during one of the…

Describes the process of developing a long-range plan for the statewide implementation of Tech Prep associate of applied science (AAS) degree programs in Texas. Suggests that the most critical issues of implementation are effective resource allocation, program access, quality assurance, and building program infrastructure. (15 references.) (MAB)

Statewide learner competency and assessment systems in 11 states were examined. Information was gathered through telephone interviews and a review of materials on the learner competency and assessment systems being used/developed in each state. Special attention was paid to the states' activities regarding development of the following: systematic…

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service (TAEX) Literacy Initiative has three major components: literacy awareness, cooperation and coordination with other state agencies and organizations, and programmatic responses. During 1991, the TAEX Literacy Initiative addressed the literacy awareness component through these activities: writing a research…

The Tech-Prep Statewide Professional Development Consortium of Texas supplemented and complemented professional development activities done within 25 local tech prep consortia to assist in full implementation of the tech prep initiative. Needs analyses identified major areas of emphasis, assessed the current level of tech prep knowledge and…

This two-part report describes various strategies for involving the private sector in job training programs and summarizes a study conducted with prime sponsors of Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) programs in Texas. Included in a discussion of involving the private sector in job training programs are the following topics: the new…

This state plan for the education of gifted/talented students in Texas first offers a rationale and goal and then defines the state and district roles for educating gifted students. The plan provides guidelines for use by local district personnel in the development of gifted programs that meet state requirements. These guidelines include: (1)…

A statewide evaluation of the mental health technologies programs of Texas' community colleges was conducted to determine the extent to which the programs use the principles of competency-based instruction (CBI) and performance standards and to establish whether competencies being taught have been evaluated in the workplace. The following were…

In a study designed to identify information needs of persons who make management decisions about public school vocational education programs in Texas and who develop ways to meet these needs through use of a management information system, particular emphasis was given to the information needs of management within the Texas Education Agency…