Although the public school choice plan implemented in Richmond, California, in 1987 through 1990 received much favorable publicity, the school district filed for bankruptcy in 1991. This paper describes the plan and the events preceding financial collapse and presents data on student absenteeism, dropout rates, test scores, and school…

A training program was developed at Fayetteville (North Carolina) State University to provide educators with theory and skills in special education consultation. The program, which can be embedded into a graduate degree program or stand alone, consists of a theory course, an internship, and a seminar in issues. (JDD)

A program for language learning-disabled students is described that uses a whole language philosophy to structure contexts that develop students' pragmatic, semantic, syntactic, graphophonemic, and metacognitive abilities underlying speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This paper describes the program environment, children, thematic…

The University of Hawaii Department of Special Education conducted the Preschool Preparation and Transition Project, a federally funded demonstration program, to support families and their children with special needs in the transition from infant programs to least restrictive preschool placements. The program addressed this goal through three…

Two individualized, mentor-paced programs for elementary school students who are extremely talented in mathematics are described--the Julian C. Stanley Mentor Program and the Investigation of Mathematically Advanced Elementary Students. The paper discusses eligibility, level of instruction, mentor selection, student evaluation, and other program…

The program of voluntary separation at Smith College (Massachusetts), implemented as an alternative to forced staff layoffs, is described. The plan included generous separation benefits and counseling services. Related issues are discussed, including tax considerations, eligibility, cost estimation, the plan's timeline, information dissemination,…

Defines collaborating systems, i.e., hardware, software, communications, and people working together; examines the need for machine-supported collaboration; and addresses the major obstacles impeding the progress of collaboration, including economic, political, human, and technical factors. A framework for the implementation of machine-supported…

Describes a restructured Chapter 1 program that provided supplemental support within the students' classrooms to raise expectations for Chapter 1 students' performance. Notes that expectations of teachers and students increased; portfolios of student work showed steady improvement in reading comprehension and writing ability; and standardized test…

The Maine studies program at a rural Maine middle school begins in the sixth grade and expands through the eighth grade. Students camp out, explore Maine's geography, and learn about themselves, their state's history, and the state's diverse populations. Two multischool programs, Exchanging Maine's Cultures and the Curriculum Integration…

Relates a middle school teacher's experiences using the project-based science approach with two groups of seventh graders. Describes the features of project-based science and the content and activities of the units taught. Discusses the challenges of implementing this approach and compares the strengths and weaknesses of project-based and…

This paper examines the need for and role of occupational therapy in the organization and functioning of a community day care center for psychiatric patients in India. The occupational therapy program involves client evaluation, determination of therapeutic activities, physical exercise, recreational activities, group sessions, family involvement,…

Discussion of integrated learning systems (ILSs) stresses the role of the teacher and the necessity of adequate teacher training for successful implementation. Three implementation patterns are described: (1) using a group computer laboratory; (2) using an independent study laboratory; and (3) a distributed system. Problems with each method are…

This article describes a demonstration project that utilized 28 community early childhood programs as intervention placements for 30 preschool-age children with disabilities. Results suggested significant developmental gains for all children. Service delivery characteristics identified as necessary for the effective implementation of intervention…

Besides reorganizing the central office to support instructional goals, the Vancouver (Washington) School District has passed bond and levy issues to revitalize the infrastructure, changed to a three-year middle school configuration, designed three new school facilities, and allocated $1 million for school improvement initiatives. The goals are…

Describes the four aspects of the Reading Recovery program: (1) the teaching of children; (2) the training of teachers; (3) the training of teacher leaders; and (4) implementing the program in an education system and coordinating the long-term prevention strategy. Notes that a critical factor in the program is the training of teachers. (RS)