Districts may have limited internal capacity to provide teachers with sustained, systemic professional learning that is relevant to every teacher due to a lack of funding, inadequate staffing, insufficient time, and competing demands. Educational service agencies, which work at the regional level to support multiple districts, can address those…

This study intends to analyse the roles of Adult Education Centres and Civil Society Organisations in adult education activities in Turkey. The research design is a phenomenological pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. The tool for data collection is a semi-structured interview form. The study group consists of 30 participants. The…

In Thailand, in-service teachers' professional development has been implemented through the Professional Learning Community (PLC) program for more than four years to develop teachers' sustainably. The sustainable development program has spread across the country in the Thai Teacher Council network. The research goals are as follows: (1) to…

Approved by the Kansas State Board of Education in 2017, the school redesign project has seen more than 160 schools to reimagine their learning models in a state-led, multiyear process. Annual cohorts named for NASA lunar missions, the fourteen schools in seven districts that formed the initial Mercury cohort engaged in intensive planning and…

As it has become a prominent feature in the identification of students with specific learning disabilities (SLD), response to intervention (RTI) has generated significant interest and, in some respects, controversy regarding assessment and attendant procedures. In the present study, the authors surveyed state directors of special education…

Most countries across Europe now have their own Inspectorate as part of a school improvement and accountability system. However, there has been little research on the impact of school inspections or on the aspects of school inspections that maximise the positive effects and minimise the unintended consequences. As a precursor to further research,…

A first glance at almost any policy document generated by a bilateral or multilateral donor agency reveals a familiar rhetoric of participation, partnership, community, good governance, growth and strong democracy as key ingredients for a successful development program. While some critics of this rhetoric argue that this is merely a recasting of…

If their money and other assets are used effectively, voluntary organizations have an impact far beyond their proportionate size. The United States needs effective governments and a strong voluntary sector, but it will have neither if national leaders do not understand the differences in their functions. (Author/JOW)

Focuses on three aspects of welfare services to families: (1) time or duration of service; (2) service content or methods; and (3) the use of contracting to structure service. (Author/MP)

Reviews the role of accreditation in American higher education and shortcomings related to its inconsistency and lack of rigor. Discusses the 1996 creation of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to oversee accreditation activities. Describes CHEA's organizational structure and analyzes its impact on accreditation and educational…

Reports the results of a survey of 24 public child welfare agencies in Maryland. The adequacy of health care supervision for children in foster care is assessed. (Author/CM)

Arguments for and against formal alumni chapters are outlined. Pros include increased membership, better leadership, and strengthened development potential; cost effectiveness is possible. Cons include direct and indirect costs; informal alumni structures are seen as equally effective. (MSE)

Provides discussions of the effectiveness of the North Central Association's accreditation process by representatives of accredited institutions. Includes 16 narratives related to the candidacy and self-study processes and such benefits of the accreditation process as a better-informed campus community, a clarified mission, and the rectification…

Examines the challenges posed by distance education for accrediting agencies in their attempts to credibly evaluate the quality of education at member institutions. Provides a list of effective practices in distance education, a discussion of the accrediting criteria needed for distance education, and some suggestions for future development. (MAB)

This is the first paper from a project which is part of the Economic and Social Research Council's programme of research into "Teaching and learning". The project, entitled "The impact of policy on learning and inclusion in the new learning and skills sector", explores what impact the efforts to create a single learning and…