Can educational reform ever be achieved without some kind of catalyst to give the movement meaning and focus? The combining of human, technical, and financial resources through school study councils, with the proper leadership from principals, can bring together diverse units at multiple levels in education. (CJH)

In comparing methods of allocating service transaction costs among member libraries of interlibrary systems, questions of how costs are to be estimated, and what cost elements are to be included are critical. Different approaches of estimation yield varying results. Actual distribution of units accounts for greatest variance in allocations. (CDD)

Recent studies have verified Secretary of Education William Bennett's observation on the importance of home and family life. The most successful students are those whose parents become actively engaged in the educational process at home and at school. To capitalize on potential parent involvement, principals need to understand the kinds of…

Eight field-tested staffing strategies for community-based programs for severely handicapped students are described. Advantages and disadvantages are summarized, and a decision-making process for selecting strategies is discussed. Among recommendations are the need to maximize coordination between school and nonschool instruction and to collect…

The option for small high schools to consider non-traditional approaches to instruction may be a viable way to meet the instructional needs of individual students in Texas' rural communities and comply with the curriculum requirements specified in Chapter 75 (recently passed by the 67th Texas Legislature). Effective in 1985, school districts will…

This paper reviews literature and history of special education programs since passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) in 1975, and describes findings from a 1987-88 survey of special education directors in 50 states. Previous literature suggested perceived benefits and difficulties with local education agency…

Collaborations between public schools and national and corporate laboratories, universities, museums, and other institutions may be a significant force in upgrading science education at the elementary and secondary levels. This report focuses on the new, inter-institutional approaches to the improvement of science education and attempts to assess…

Examines schoolwide improvement programs initiated by four states. Describes successful endeavors of California, Ohio, and Colorado schools to improve curricula and student achievement and the Connecticut schools' strategy to improve principal-teacher communication. Attributes the success of these reform programs to solid leadership skills,…

Educational needs and economic pressures are creating opportunities for colleges and universities to enter into partnerships with business. Through such partnerships, colleges can experience growth, corporations can improve efficient use of training and education dollars, and corporate employees can have a broader, more efficient learning…

To assess the current connections between the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and One-Stop (OS) systems, case studies were conducted of eight states and eight local areas. Findings indicated the major factor that influenced UI's role in the OS design was whether the state took initial claims by telephone or in-person; UI played differing roles in…

An independent evaluation of the Career Explorations program found it to be worthy of both continuation and replication. Career Explorations is a summer youth program operated by Hunter College (New York) in cooperation with The Coalition of 100 Black Women, and supported by The Commonwealth Fund. Its aim is to help minority New York City high…

The Portland (Oregon) Plan for Drug-Free Schools was so well-accepted in its first year that it was expanded from six middle schools in 1987-88 to all middle schools in the Portland Public Schools in 1988-89. The program was originally implemented in grades 6-12, with a special focus on six middle schools. The goals are the following: (1) develop…

This volume is a literature overview of school-business partnerships, encompassing types of partnerships, issues, program models, and information for development and research. The first section, "Perspectives," includes six articles that place partnerships in historic context, identify motivations that contribute to partnership…

The 1982-83 report on the Individualized Bilingual Instruction (IBI) Interstate Training Project evaluates Project activities in Washington and Texas, funded through Section 143 of the Migrant Education Interstate and Intrastate Coordination Program. The purpose of the Project is stated: to disseminate the Pasco (Washington) School District's…

This paper puts in historical perspective and reviews current policy issues unique to private, historically black college. Their historical traditions and mission of service, the paper notes black private colleges currently enroll about 17 percent of blacks in higher education and award more than one-third of baccalaureate degrees earned by…