A five-step method of instructional program evaluation is described, which helps insure educators that their graduates will continue to gain employment and that courses will continue to teach skills sought by employers. The steps are self-identification, target groups, requirements, data reduction, and program development. (CT)

The success of an organization depends on a satisfied, challenged work force. Career planning is a key element in efforts to reach this goal. The author presents a strategy for developing a career planning system which takes account of the individual employee's needs within the corporate structure. (CT)

School health screening programs, which include screening, education of children and parents, and follow-up in the form of appropriate treatment, are described. A scoliosis screening program is described as an example of the model presented. Suggestions for planners, participants, and evaluators of any school health screening are summarized. (JMF)

Described is the career education approach used in the Savona, New York, school system, which includes a five-part career education planning model. Broader-based community efforts in career education provide the framework within which school programs are developed. (CT)

The procedure described consists of eight interacting stages: (1) definition of institutional mission and service area; (2) idea generation; (3) idea screening; (4) concept development; (5) concept testing; (6) costing; (7) estimation of program demand; and (8) program evaluation. A pilot test of the procedure is reviewed. (Author/LBH)

Quality Function Deployment, a set of concepts and tools used in manufacturing engineering to link consumer needs with product design, can also improve academic advising systems and processes. The technique promotes structured, logical examination of students' advising needs and their relationship to advising system design, processes, methods,…

Some funding is necessary to run a writing-across-the-curriculum program, but it is possible to redesign a program and keep it running when outside funding ends. (MSE)

This position statement was developed by members of the National Council of State Supervisors of Foreign Languages to assist school districts as they develop middle school foreign language programs. (JL)

Guidelines are presented for special educators designing a parent training program. The article includes a sample training format, a comparison of seven commercial parent training programs, and the identification of "best practices" in parent training (e.g., "group parents based on common need" and "establish clear goals"). (DB)

Two successful alumni continuing education programs at Columbia University (New York) are an annual seminar event offered in New Mexico and Italy and an on-campus evening colloquium series. The travel program sparks intellectual exchanges and allows cultivation of prospective donors. The colloquium series uses an interdisciplinary approach in…

Discusses eight key elements that should be included in programs (in school districts along the United States-Mexico border) designed to boost immigrant parents' participation and involvement in their children's education. (SR)

A study explored the perspectives of nine participants engaged in a specific person-centered future planning model for individuals with disabilities and their families. Focus group themes included: evolution of person-centered planning circles or teams, inhibitors to the person-centered planning process, supports to the person-centered planning…

Explores whether men and women have different levels of learning in an internet-based course and reports the results of comparing men and women in an asynchronous MBA course. Uses the findings to provide implications and recommendations for institutions seeking to develop such programs. (Contains 69 references.) (DDR)

Since the announcement in 1999 of a plan to tie teachers' salary increases to student achievement by Denver Public Schools, there has been a flood of nationwide policy activity around teacher compensation. This paper examines pay plans in Denver, Toledo, Minneapolis, and New York City, offering a snapshot of the changing landscape of teacher…

This paper describes the initial efforts of the New American Schools Development Corporation (NASDC), a private, nonprofit corporation created as part of the American 2000 initiative to fund the development of new designs for American schools. NASDC is currently funding nine teams to develop and demonstrate designs for high-performing schools.…