In October 2014, The National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education, convened a Technical Working Group (TWG). The purpose of this TWG meeting was to discuss critical education problems and issues on which…

How do open and distance learning institutions review and renew themselves to ensure their continued fitness for purpose? Here we report on the work of a change team in the UK Open University, a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning created to examine, innovate and improve student support. The existence of the Centre for five years from…

This document contains recommendations from the Sunset Commission for the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) in Austin, Texas. Recommendations include: (1) modify ECI's current method of purchasing early intervention services to ensure the state receives the best value for its dollars; (2) tap additional funding sources to…

This report contains recommendations from the Sunset Advisory Commission for the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) in Austin, Texas. The Commission review of ECI focused on maximizing the resources of the existing service delivery system to improve the quality of services and to provide services to more children and their…

The evolution of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC); and changes in its mission and operating policies at its creation, the redesign of 1987, and during the present planning for a second quarter century are discussed. Eight program improvement initiatives are discussed. (SLD)

The review of social and behavioral science programs supported by the National Science Foundation recommends improvements in program substance and management. Sixteen social and behavioral scientists who are or have been grantees under Foundation programs served on the review committee. They examined more than 150 documents pertaining to…

This monograph, one of a series prepared for the Employment and Training Administration, attempts to provide a new approach to on-the-job training (OJT) and to offer the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) prime sponsors a basis for new programmatic directions. The monograph is divided into seven chapters. Subject areas included are…

At least 154 employment training programs (ETP) providing approximately $25 billion in employment training assistance are currently administered by 14 federal agencies. Individually, these programs are all well-intended. Collectively, however, they have been described as bewildering and frightening to clients and confusing to those who operate…

A national survey of black leaders was conducted by federal vocational education administrators to help assure that programs meet the legislative mandate and are socially responsive to black students' needs. The first of three major survey questions--"Is it desirable for black students to enter and complete vocational education programs?"--was…

This paper suggests specific changes in Chapter 1 legislation (up for reauthorization in the fall of 1993) to make it more responsive not only to schools and students, but also to current school restructuring initiatives and new understandings of teaching, learning, and assessment. Recommendations are made in the areas of greater equity in access…

Agricultural extension is one component in an array including research, training, education, marketing, international trade, etc. which develop together to bring about growth, and sustained growth determines the priorities for extension. These priorities depend inevitably on the stage of development of a country or region, and on the current…

Policymakers must review the accomplishments of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA), problems associated with suggestions for its reform, and incremental reforms to the program that are required and possible. Despite the fact that research generally attests to CETA's success, the system suffers from a poor public image.…

In a national study to help assure that programs meet the legislative mandate and are socially responsive to black students' needs, federal vocational education administrators surveyed black leaders. Respondants included 1,252 persons. The first of three major survey questions--"Is it desirable for black students to enter and complete…

During the debate concerning the reauthorization of vocational education, a number of factors must be considered pertaining to the issue of federal-state relationships regarding vocational education and national purposes for vocational education. While the federal government uses education as a vehicle for addressing a number of social concerns,…

This policy analysis focuses on identifying optimal federal fiscal policies for achieving desired programmatic and student outcomes on behalf of special populations in vocational education (i.e., disadvantaged, limited-English-proficient, and handicapped persons, and students interested in nontraditional careers). The present status of unserved…