Computer science (CS) education helps students acquire skills such as computational thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, among others. As these skills take preeminence in the rapidly changing 21st century, CS education promises to significantly enhance student preparedness for the future of work and active citizenship. Based on prior…

A survey by Illinois Plan for Home Economics Education of 51 state supervisors of vocational home economics found that 40 have recently revised the secondary home economics curriculum; only 10 had research underway in support of home economics; most favored family and/or family-work issues in the curriculum; and 40 considered their home economics…

The Pennsylvania School Improvement Program (PSIP) was created to assist local schools and school districts in the development of curriculum improvement strategies. The process involves the use of "linkers," curriculum specialists who work with teams from the local level to ascertain needs, then connect the local teams with the research…

Responses from 49 states and the District of Columbia determined that (1) 40 have some prevocational education and 29 have state-sponsored programs; (2) 5 require it of all students; (3) 17 have 50 percent or more of seventh and eighth graders enrolled; and (4) primary influences were the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 and the 1970s…

The report (in working draft form) of the Connecticut Task Force on Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented summarizes three theoretical models for curriculum planning, gives an overview of elementary and secondary curricula currently being used in Connecticut school districts, and provides an annotated bibliography on curriculum development.…

The report briefly describes a project to develop career orientation materials for special needs students--disadvantaged and educable mentally handicapped (EMH)--at the junior and senior high school levels in North Dakota. The activities involved in selecting the career areas are briefly discussed. By polling various students in different parts of…

The Pennsylvania School Improvement Program (PSIP) was created to assist local schools and school districts in the development of curriculum improvement strategies. The process involves the use of "linkers," curriculum specialists who work with teams from the local level to ascertain needs, then connect the local teams with the research…

State policies to encourage elementary teachers to teach for understanding and thinking are more comprehensive in California than in any other state. Based on in-depth interviews with eight curriculum and policy experts and an analysis of over 100 documents, this report describes efforts being advanced across six policy fronts: (1) curriculum…

A survey of the background, attitudes, and perceptions of 44 Diversified Technology teachers (100 percent response), 42 counselors (95 percent), and 42 vocational directors (95 percent) in Mississippi found that most teachers were satisfied with training and had positive attitudes toward the program. Teachers and directors found low enrollment its…

Twenty-nine usable responses from 50 teacher education institutions indicated the following: 55% have a coordinated state inservice program; most emphasize new technologies and contemporary teaching methods; teachers have some input in planning activities; and there is little follow-up or evaluation. (SK)

In spite of their responsibilities and specific contexts in matters of teaching core French as a second language, the Canadian provinces sometimes face common problems such as having to adapt a single program to various schools when the level of basic knowledge of students of French varies. Several original solutions easily adaptable to other…

The 1974 seminar for State directors of vocational education focused on improvement of vocational curricula at the local education agency level. One hundred fifteen persons, representing 43 State vocational units, one territory, and Washington, D.C., attended the seminar. Sepcial emphasis was given to processes and innovative concepts relating to…

Examined the links between the minority and poverty status of public secondary schools and course-taking patterns within those schools by looking at the 1984 Regents Action Plan in New York state to explore the role of standards-based policies in altering connections between schooling context and curricula. Finds show the beneficial effects of the…

The Arizona Elementary Foreign Language Task Force's response to a state mandate requiring foreign-language instruction in all elementary schools is described. After a review of curricular and personnel resource needs, Northern Arizona University's teacher-training model is summarized. (Contains 29 references.) (Author/LB)

Responses from industrial arts/technology education state supervisors from all states but Michigan showed the greatest technology education implementation and human adaptive systems orientation in the east central and midwest regions and more vocational orientation in the southeast and northeast. Teacher associations were important change agents.…