This paper describes the emerging debate on efficiency and program quality in rural schools, explores the strengths and weaknesses of rural district consolidation, and suggests policy options for redesigning rural education. An examination of economic trends, demographics, and philosophical changes regarding rural education's purpose puts…

This handbook for educators, administrators, and community leaders shows how innovative and outstanding programs can demonstrate by example. It offers helpful guidelines and models, raises and comments upon present and future issues, and suggests valuable resources. Chapter 1 defines family life education by discussing its importance and…

In fall 1985, a study was conducted by the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of community college assessment programs throughout the state. Each community college in the state randomly selected 100 students whose basic skills had been assessed and who had enrolled in…

English departments in Arab universities have been in an uncertain state from their beginning for lack of specific policy on the emphasis to be given to English or comparative literature, English or general linguistics, or a combination. Leanings toward English literature have always been evident, but course offerings and faculty recruitment show…

Presenting a review of research on parent involvement, this document is intended to serve as a basis for developing policies, programs, and practices in parent involvement programs. Specifically, the review concerns (1) the role of parents, family, and home in determining children's intelligence, competence, and achievement; (2) the effects of…

Approximately 200 resources which appeared in "Resources in Education" and "Current Index to Journals in Education" from January 1981 to June 1983 have been compiled into an annotated bibliography covering aspects of American Indian education including curriculum development, culture, counseling, student development, testing,…

In its efforts to promote equity and excellence for Hispanic children, Western Service Systems, Inc. (WSS) serves parents, teachers, administrators, and public officials through research, creative thinking, design and implementation of new programs, coalition building, communication, and information. During 1983-84, WSS addressed the issues of…

A study investigated attempts to influence student-teachers' interactive cognitions by means of specially designed video materials that were detailed illustrations of educational theories. It was hypothesized that student-teachers, having worked through these video materials, would be inclined to used the theoretical key elements in their thinking…

The Bidwell Training Center, Inc., in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, evaluated the effectiveness of IBM's Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System (PALS), an interactive instructional program to teach adolescents and adults writing and reading skills. Bidwell's goal was to use PALS to teach large numbers of adults who read below the fifth-grade level.…

In 1984-85, as part of its annual assessment of the character of remedial programs in New Jersey, the New Jersey Basic Skills Council (NJBSC) administered the Basic Skills Questionnaire to all county and state colleges and universities and requested information on enrollments, placement testing, students identified as needing remediation, students…

This comparative analysis updates the effects on school finance of the Delaware Legislature's passage of a new equalization law in 1984. The formula for allocation of equalization funds was modified by increasing the level of state support and by requiring greater local tax effort for districts to qualify for the funds. Analysis focuses on four…

A synthesis of conclusions, reached during small group discussions at a working conference on student teaching, concerns: (1) a system for identifying, monitoring, and assessing cooperating teachers; (2) the cooperating teacher's status (authority, rewards, and collegial interaction); (3) expectations for cooperating teachers' behavior (technical,…

Testimony on the bill to amend the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (1984) is presented. Statements are recorded from: (1) Representative Mary Rose Oakar (Ohio); (2) Keith Geiger, vice president, National Education Association; (3) William L. Smith, Director, Administrative Resource Management Services, U.S.…

A comprehensive analysis was conducted of the curriculum development process in the trade program areas of Connecticut Regional Vocational-Technical Schools (CRVTS). Methods included review of the current curriculum development processes through review of materials and observation; identification, collection, and analysis of alternative processes…

The 11 items in this annotated bibliography are entries in the ERIC system concerning studies of school effectiveness and the debate surrounding how much influence schools have over student learning. Several articles included reexamine the 1966 Coleman report, and one compares a more recent Coleman report with the earlier report. A number of…