Recounts the development and implementation of a new language and literature program into the kindergarten curriculum at the Lincoln-Eliot School in Newton, Massachusetts. (BB)

This review of Head Start literature evaluates long-term effects of Head Start on students' overall academic success. Research bears out the idea that Project Head Start has strong immediate effects on the cognitive and socioemotional development of young children. (RJC)

Evaluated school drug and alcohol prevention curriculum "Here's Looking at You, Two" using more rigorous methodology than previous studies. Tested school children (N=2,703) in grades l-12 about program content. Found program effective at communicating information to elementary and middle school students but had little impact on attitudes…

Used meta-analysis to review 33 evaluations of school-based alcohol and drug education programs. Found typical substance abuse education had most positive effects on knowledge and attitudes, but was unsuccessful in changing drug-using behaviors of students. Attitudinal effects were significantly higher when peers were instructional leaders and…

Follow-up testing of 110 children with cognitive and/or language delays who had participated (when ages 3-7) in early intervention programs based on either direct instruction or mediated learning principles found few differential effects by the second year post-intervention, though the overall benefits of early intervention appeared to continue.…

Nine teachers in programs serving school-aged children or adults with severe disabilities received training on applying rules in data-based instructional decisions. After one-two years of implementation, the teachers' decision making and the effect of these decisions on student progress were evaluated. Some support was found for the benefit of…

Discusses components of the parent cooperative model implemented at the Boston Children's Center. (BB)

The London Education Authority (LEA) stresses the importance of developing the interface between quantitative models of assessment and qualitative assessments, describing an interdisciplinary approach to the development of models of educational accountability, recommends an alternative method, data envelopment analysis, and compares it to the…

Many small private colleges are gaining in enrollments because of aggressive marketing tactics, more long-term planning, and innovative educational programs designed to appeal to nontraditional students. (MSE)

This paper evaluates two research projects concerned with conductive education for children with cerebral palsy, one in Germany and the other in the United Kingdom. Issues of generalizability and drawing causal conclusions are raised. The paper finds that neither the most sanguine expectations nor the worst misgivings about conductive education…

Provides discussions of the effectiveness of the North Central Association's accreditation process by representatives of accredited institutions. Includes 16 narratives related to the candidacy and self-study processes and such benefits of the accreditation process as a better-informed campus community, a clarified mission, and the rectification…

Examines the challenges posed by distance education for accrediting agencies in their attempts to credibly evaluate the quality of education at member institutions. Provides a list of effective practices in distance education, a discussion of the accrediting criteria needed for distance education, and some suggestions for future development. (MAB)

The effects of a criminal diversion project on recidivism rates are described for late-age adolescent defendants with learning disabilities (n=73). Recidivism rates were 12% for the project completers, 40% for noncompleters, and 38% for nontreated subjects. The importance of skill development and interventions targeted toward this population is…

Examines data from four years of operation of a program to manage after-hours pediatrics calls using specially trained pediatric nurses with standardized protocols to provide triage and advice. Found that over 100,000 calls had been successfully managed without adverse clinical outcomes. Satisfaction among subscribing pediatricians was 100%, and…

A study with 206 federal government employees reveals that degree of voluntary participation in quality circles is positively related to following quality circle guidelines and that following such guidelines is positively related to economic gain. Implications of voluntary and nonvoluntary participation on cost-benefit outcomes is discussed. (SLD)