The paper reviews factors affecting development of early intervention programs for all handicapped infants including changing political and economic conditions and programmatic issues (setting, staffing, identification). Finally, the provisions of P.L. 99-457 creating a discretionary infant intervention program are outlined. (Author/DB)

Argues that the United States has been conspicuous in failing to develop national policies responsive to the needs of dual-earner families and that the proven experience of other European countries should be helpful in developing programs in the United States. (JOW)

This paper provides an overview of the emergence of U.S. nursery schools. Sections concern: (1) the status of nursery schools in the United States before 1933; (2) the economic crisis of 1929; (3) the creation of federal programs; (4) authorization of emergency nursery schools; and (5) the involvement of the National Advisory Committee. Early…

Federally funded educational programs produce better results when developed and managed by local school districts. (JD)

Citing the nation's need for an environmentally aware citizenry, the author discusses federal and international efforts toward environmental education, particularly UNESCO's First Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education, held in Tbilisi in October, 1977. She proposes methods by which the United States could implement the…

Twenty-nine recommendations were compiled from ideas generated by participants at the National Conference on Self- Determination, which was called by the United States Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, with over half the participants having disabilities of some kind. The participants came with different perspectives, but…

Measures were proposed that would enable UNICEF, in association with others and despite prevailing difficult economic circumstances, to more effectively bring well-being and hope to hundreds of millions of children. Specific proposals were designed to help most countries accelerate child survival and development. Most particularly, it was…

Suggests that in the past 20 years major shifts in federal government policies have taken place which have increased state control over mental health programs to the detriment of local communities. Identifies and discusses the major factors responsible for these changes. (Author/BH)

The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's depiction study of early childhood education and care programs in the Northwest and Hawaii documents the extent of program development in the region. In four sections, this report of the study: (1) describes the emerging structure of early childhood services, reviewing key findings and projecting…

Summarizes recent development in early childhood "educare" in New Zealand. Educare is a continuum of early childhood services which include kindergartens, play centers, child care (day care) centers, and Nga Kohanga Reo (Maori Language Nests). Also addresses issues facing these services. (BB)

This is the second of two papers on the policy issues of early childhood development programs that were prepared especially for state, local, and federal government officials throughout the country. The first paper presented the problem of early childhood poverty and its consequences, and described how high quality early childhood development…

Describes Head Start's financial uncertainty for the future due to the government's budget battle. Presents information on the key points in the budget process, how that process got off track in fiscal year 1996, the resulting government shutdowns, and how Head Start can prepare for the 1997 budget debates. (MOK)

Mississippi continues to lead the nation in excessive infant deaths, as shown by the 1984 infant mortality rate of 14.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. This report offers recommendations for actions that should be taken by various entities to rectify the problem. Recommendations are made in the areas of (1) public awareness of teen pregnancy…

Any system for the sponsorship, support, or design of educational projects (such as curriculum projects) has intrinsic biases as to style and content. To test the thesis that these biases are virtually inevitable and precede considered policy, two simplified models of systems support can be used: the "Culture Ministry" approach and the "In Situ"…

One of the priorities of the 70's will be the preeminence of professional development for teachers already in the field. Both fiscal realities and personnel practices demand that the focus of teacher training be on inservice education. This paper considers the vital question of governance of the inservice enterprise, looking at position papers…