This report contains research findings on student achievement and retention at New York City alternative high schools serving dropouts and potential dropouts. After a summary and introduction, statistics are presented which reveal that alternative schools facilitate positive changes in student performance. Next, reasons for students' dropping out…

Intensive education is an alternative educational approach in which students study one or two subjects a day for a concentrated number of weeks. This report considers whether intensive study is a valid alternative to the traditional class schedule and discusses the strengths, values, and problems of intensive education. Data sources for the report…

Continuous progress education (CP) provides for the individualization of all significant aspects of learning, including materials, content, objectives, methods, pacing, and student-teacher relationships. It is based on the proposition that no general prescriptions are equally appropriate for all students. A brief description of Hood River Valley…

The major purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics, problems, and recommendations for developing and improving open-entry/open-exit systems of individualized, competency-based vocational instruction for Florida high school students. A survey instrument was developed to collect relevant data. Those surveyed in the descriptive…

This report provides a description of the conceptualization and methods required to perform a cost effectiveness analysis in the field of instructional technology. The case study discussed involves a cost effectiveness comparison of four alternative systems for delivering continuing education instruction in management to several geographically…

This review of research and other literature on educational vouchers provides an overview and history of the voucher concept and voucher programs. The author first looks at several existing versions of the voucher idea, such as the G.I. Bill and Denmark's free schools. California's Alum Rock voucher experiment is evaluated, with suggestions about…

Innovation programs in higher education are generally received with some skepticism and are often asked to justify their existence and the funding they are accorded. Since the programs are largely efforts to explore and demonstrate effective teaching and learning not present in traditional postsecondary education, the appropriateness of judging…

Research for Better Schools, Inc., a regional educational laboratory, is proceeding to develop an employer-based career education model in order to provide further definition and meaning to the concept. The model will be a private academic school, the Academy for Career Education, and will serve 100 11th grade students from Philadelphia. It will…

A collaboration between an urban antipoverty agency, Action for Boston Community Development, and a private higher education institution, Lesley College, is described. A bachelor's degree program for adults associated with human service agencies is provided. (Author/MLW)

Discusses the professional portfolio as (1) evidence of knowledge and skills gained through prior learning and experience; (2) a placement tool for faculty, and (3) useful in a student's program planning. Describes the concept and development of the portfolio's narrative and documentation sections. Also rates the portfolio's advantages and…

Unanswered questions about the development and administration of distance education as a solution to educational needs in developing nations are discussed, including program articulation, meeting different cultural needs and circumstances, and appropriate curriculum. (MSE)

Describes the Cooperative Alternative Program (CAP), Coleman (Texas), an example of the way a rural high school for at-risk students has established a sense of community while improving the achievement of its rural students. This case study shows how CAP faced its economic and collaborative challenges. (SLD)

Describes the introduction of the Patchwork Text format into the dissertation on a Master's degree in Social Work. Discusses the rationale for rethinking the conventional dissertation and the "patches" making up the revised dissertation format. Draws upon completed dissertations of two students on the program to illustrate how the characteristics…

Discusses how the Web is used and applied in online learning in Taiwan. Presents five different aspects of how Web-based online learning is facilitated--courseware-, theory-, instruction-, community- and assessment-oriented--with detailed descriptions of projects implemented over the last several years. Emphasizes a call for a localized approach…

Discusses the use of focus groups and surveys to examine the characteristics and needs of nontraditional teacher education students, explaining the importance of open lines of communication among students, faculty, and college administrators to ensure successful programmatic implementation. Data from Bradley University nontraditional students…