Beginning with statements indicating the serious inadequacy of America's science education, the author describes a National Science Foundation program to recruit principals to support science education improvement and to conduct inservice training in science education for their teachers. (JM)

Summarizes a report from Northwestern University that reviewed Federal evaluation practices of federally supported educational programs at the national, state, and local levels. Considers: (1) evaluation purposes and methods; (2) evaluators' capabilities; (3) use of evaluation results; and (4) ways that evaluation procedures/practices can be…

Suggests developing a five-dimension rating scale to assess participants' perceptions of both the process and the product outcomes of the Group Projects Abroad (GPA) experience, a federal program funding foreign study by curriculum development teams. Outlines the rationale for each dimension and proposes guidelines for constructing scale items.…

This paper shows how several of Cook and Gruder's meta-evaluation models have been applied in the national evaluation of Project Follow Through. Participants in the evaluation are identified, their roles are described, and the degree to which these roles map onto the meta-evaluation models is assessed. (Author/BW)

Presents an overview of the fiscal year 1980 budget for science education programs of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Broad goals of the NSF science education programs and budget highlights are also discussed. (HM)

Organizational aspects and implementation of Switzerland's national research program that promote goal-oriented research in the service of the general public are described. The Federal Council of Switzerland decides on the topics to be researched and the National Fund is responsible for carrying out the programs. (Author/SF)

The status of two of life's necessities, air and water, is of crucial importance to the future of American parks and recreation programs, and continued cooperation among federal, state, local and private sectors is necessary to preserve them. (JD)

The U.S. is one of the few economically developed nations without a national policy supporting children and their families. This paper suggests that the U.S. has a unique national ideology, based on the Calvinist ethic, that results in opposition to all government-supported welfare programs. (CB)

Describes the beginnings of Head Start in detail. Discusses Head Start's record in providing health care for low-income children. Compares early Head Start with the program of recent years. Discusses ways in which Head Start emphasizes children's health and helps Head Start parents and family members. (BG)

Creative ideas recently emerging to help families cope with rising educational costs are reviewed, including state and federal level savings plans, alternative loan programs, guaranteed access plans, and public service proposals. (Author/MSE)

Using both externally and internally derived data, a team of economists reveals the complexities of the impact of student aid on institutional finances. It is also suggested that high tuition increases are linked to federal aid policy, but in an unexpected way. (Author/MSE)

Congress is considering major changes in federal student aid programs that, if approved, would result in the largest increase in the cost of college in the nation's history. Colleges and universities must now consider how reduced federal student aid would affect their enrollment, and make federal policymakers understand the potential impact of…

This paper describes activities of Canada's Secretary of State (the ministry responsible for the status of disabled persons) toward ensuring equal access to fundamental elements of daily life. These include improving access to postsecondary education through establishment of Centres of Specialization; funding projects of national disability…

The newly authorized Chapter 1 contains specific provisions for state and local agencies related to improving program quality. A review of state standards since 1989-90 shows that states use minimum standards to identify schools needing improvement and that program improvement requirements have generally failed to stimulate high student…

An in-depth analysis of the substance and the implications of the National Environmental Education Act (1990a and 1990b) is provided. The establishment of new agencies, their charge to coordinate efforts, the range of activities to be supported, and the level of funding all indicate a significant renewal of federal commitment to environmental…