Historically, U.S. school districts have led schooling, while state education agencies (SEAs) have held a largely regulatory role in school improvement. Yet, a recent reform strategy, the "state takeover," allows an SEA to assume direct governance of a low-performing district -- potentially creating a much more active role for state…

This response identifies several strengths of the article, "Pushing the Boundaries: What Youth Organizers at Boston's Hyde Square Task Force Have to Teach Us about Civic Engagement" and draws connections to recent developments in sibling fields, including social and emotional learning and internet activism. These developments offer ideas…

This report describes the use of Lead Turnaround Partners (LTPs) in the current School Improvement Grant (SIG) program and provides the results of document review, surveys, and interviews with eight State Education Agencies and seven Lead Turnaround Partner organizations. The study focuses on the implementation of the transformation and turnaround…

Two position papers on higher education in Massachusetts in the 1980s, which were prepared by the Alden Seminar for Higher Education, are presented. In addition, an overview of the Alden Seminar meeting (Boston, Massachusetts, October 1983), which examined proposals for a Higher Education Development Corporation, is included. In "Adjusting to…

This guide outlines the methods for organizing and using vocational technical advisory committees in secondary schools in Massachusetts. It is intended to be used as the basis for school staff training to be conducted by personnel at the State Department of Education's Regional Education Centers. The guide provides illustrations and exhibits of…

The Facilitator's Role in Collaborative Rural Development Project began in 1979 as a study of 12 rural development efforts which comprised the North Carolina Rural Employment Laboratory and was expanded in 1980-81 to include rural development in 6 other states (California, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Vermont). A wide range of…

This supplement updating a 1977 publication explains changes and additions in the priorities and administration of library programs, services, and activities funded under the Library Services and Construction Act in Massachusetts. The functions and responsibilities of three state agencies--Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,…

The report describes activities and findings of an 18-month project which surveyed day and other non-residential services provided to persons with mental retardation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. An introductory section describes project purposes, followed by a description of project methods (sampling plan, questionnaire development,…

Describes Boston Family Reunification Network's instruments to measure process and clinical outcomes of initiatives designed to help children return to their families, the two-year development process, and the points considered during the instruments' development. Includes suggestions for other social welfare groups planning to create and…

Describes the role of parent information centers in the school selection process, drawing on experiences with six Massachusetts information centers. In spite of insufficient funding and overwhelming work loads, these centers are providing valuable information to help parental school choice and to promote parent participation in school decision…

The Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications (MCET), a quasi-public agency, plays a leadership role in distance education and the integration of telecommunications and education locally and nationally. Operator of the Mass LearnPike satellite network and the Mass Ed OnLine LearnNet computer network, MCET provides expanded…

A study examined state-level coordination of education and job training policy development in Massachusetts. Selected representatives of Massachusetts' four secretariats, 30-40 agencies, and governing and advisory councils/boards responsible for oversight of the commonwealth's education/training programs were interviewed. It was recommended that…

Strategies for helping recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits to pursue postsecondary education are considered, based on a review of activities in Massachusetts and supplemented by findings about 11 other states and the District of Columbia. College financial aid officers, state aid agencies, and Educational…

The chief factors in State administration of public education are the State board, the State superintendent, and the professional staff of the State departments of education. Several valuable studies have been made of the State board and the State superintendent. It is the purpose of the present study to supplement these with an investigation of…

The study described the development of the New England Farm Workers' Council, Inc., and documented significant interactions among selected elements of the Puerto Rican migrant farm labor system in the Connecticut Valley. These elements were the migrant farmworker community, the farm labor employers, and agencies of the federal government and of…