Thirteen author-contributed chapters focus on program design for gifted and talented students. The following titles and authors are included: "Special Educational Programs for the Gifted Are Essential--A Superintendent's Point of View" (M. Gustin); "Getting Started and Moving into Implementation" (W. Vassar); "Policy Implications for…

This digest reviews a variety of the policies, programs, and practices to prevent youth violence so that local leaders can base decisions on the experience of other communities. The effectiveness of school violence prevention initiatives is increased by public policies that reinforce their message and by community programs that attempt to prevent…

Suggestions for early childhood educators on how to provide developmentally appropriate practices and teaching methods are offered. Suggestions concern: (1) making decisions about entrance and placement; (2) evaluating a program's accomplishment of goals; (3) planning and individualizing curriculum and instruction; and (4) promoting appropriate…

This digest presents an overview of successful urban anti-truancy strategies, including both supports and penalties for students and their families. It is generally believed that to prevent truancy a sustained, multifaceted, and personalized program for each student must be developed. Community collaboration is essential to these efforts, as the…

Youth apprenticeship programs differ from the registered apprenticeship that is regulated by federal and state governments. Defined as a "learning program for young people, age 16 and older, that integrates on-the-job training with school-based instruction, that bridges high school and postsecondary schooling, and that results in both academic…

The 1998 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) consolidates more than 70 programs and gives states the flexibility to partner with local governments to develop streamlined services providing universal access. Because adult education and postsecondary vocational education are required partners in the one-stop systems being established through Title I of…

An incentive early retirement program is an arrangement between employer and employee that provides tangible inducement or reward for voluntary early retirement. It may be a formal program or an ad hoc agreement negotiated with the institution. The most common incentives include severance pay, liberalized actuarial reduction, annuity enhancements,…

The National Commission on Excellence in Teacher Education was appointed in 1983 to describe the present state of teacher education, identify problem issues, and make recommendations for the improvement of teacher education. The final report of the Commission, "A Call for Change in Teacher Education," was based on information gathered at…

The United States has admitted more than 1 million Southeast Asian refugees since 1975. The impact of these refugees on language and literacy education has been profound; many innovations in adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) education have derived from efforts to meet their language and literacy needs. The first wave of refugees in the…

Proposed reforms in education call for, among other things: developing K-12 schools as field sites for teacher education; professionalizing teachers to give them a greater voice in carrying out the responsibilities of their positions; and providing the opportunity for lifelong career development for teachers. Schools and colleges or universities…

Although the benefits of articulation between secondary and postsecondary vocational programs are clear, progress in articulation between proprietary schools and secondary and/or postsecondary programs has been slow. The fundamental barrier to articulation between proprietary schools and postsecondary vocational education programs is faculty…

The success of a merit pay program depends primarily on careful, cooperative planning involving all constituencies who will be affected, so that the resulting plan is affordable, acceptable to teachers, and adapted to the needs of the district. Criteria for awards should reflect the goals of the program, and should be applied fairly and…

Each paper in this monograph provides a discussion of and/or proposes a possible solution to a critical issue which must be faced by student affairs workers during the 1980's. The first article examines the legitimacy of student affairs as a professional entity within the field of higher education. The second article discusses the rationale of…

The literature on incentive early retirement for faculty members is reviewed, including the findings of studies that have assessed the effectiveness of such programs. In addition to describing different types of programs and the incentives offered, attention is directed to legal issues, costs and benefits, assessing whether a program is feasible,…

Despite growing interest in children's policy and in research regarding childhood bilingualism and language acquisition, the early care and education of linguistically and culturally diverse preschoolers remains a matter of much concern. Relative inattention at the level of policy to the needs and interests of such children is due to several…