The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), accredits Wyoming's seven community colleges. Institutional accreditation is a voluntary process that serves the critical purposes of quality assurance and institutional and program improvement. Colleges that are accredited by the HLC…

The School-to-Work Opportunities Act, which was designed to improve student learning, in-school retention, and transition to the workplace, requires the restructuring of secondary education and the extensive involvement of business in preparing youth for the workplace. School-to-work initiatives reflect the conditions of the settings and contexts…

This review examined the evaluation components from 10 awarded state improvement grants designed to improve systems providing services for students with disabilities. The review examined the following aspects of the evaluation components: purposes, conceptual framework for the evaluation and systems reform, evaluation design and approaches,…

In 1996, the City of Phoenix Enterprise Community Job Linkages Initiative sought to increase employment by matching local people with local jobs. Evaluation of the second project at Friendly House found that Friendly House, during the 18 months of the grant, increased residents' employability skills and linked them with Enterprise Community…

Discusses a follow-up study of graduates of Wisconsin's vocational, technical, and adult education system. The resulting data have been used for interpretation of program/student success, decision making, responding to labor market needs and projections, and for student recruitment. (JOW)

Advocates the creation of an "at-home" environment in after-school programs to encourage children to wind down after active days and to make child care a place of security, love, and fun. Suggests that a quiet environment, snacks, homework, puzzles and games, outdoor or gymnasium play comprise an effective after-school program. (KDFB)

Reviews social changes affecting community colleges and the continuing education (CE) programs at the colleges. Argues that current CE programs are isolated from academic units but should instead be integrated across the institution. Proposes an integrated model that would better serve the needs of the communities. (25 citations) (AJL)

Reports on observations of the guidance and counseling services offered in nine schools in the San Francisco Unified School District, California. Provides a history of the development of these programs, discusses the role of the counselor, sets forth the expected tasks of the counselor while comparing these with the actual work being performed,…

The "Ziegarnik effect," a learner's tendency to recall uncompleted tasks longer than completed ones and to remember failures more easily than successes, is applied to improving programs for the subgroup of students with emotional/behavioral disorders who show little benefit from special education interventions, and to teacher…

This article describes service outcomes for people with disabilities, achieved by local Oregon communities during the past five years as they have implemented a community capacity building model called the Community Transition Team Model. Principles of successful programs included active participation of diverse stakeholders, change viewed as a…

Reports on a United Nations appraisal of the preschool component of India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the program, the efficacy of preschool programs in India, and the role of staff training, calling for the upgrading of initial and on-the-job training. (MDM)

Discusses academic support programs for distance education students and describes the results of an evaluation of the orientation program at the University College of Central Queensland (UCCQ). A questionnaire was used to determine the costs of the program, whether student needs were being met, orientation attendance, and needed changes or…

This paper cites modest beneficial effects of early intervention for children with developmental disabilities or children at risk, and examines two specific program features, age of start and family involvement. The moderating influence of the level of disability severity is also analyzed, and future directions for improving early intervention…

Effective practice reviews (EPRs) are described as used in evaluation studies for the Office of Evaluation and Inspections, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examples are given of EPRs in addressing new problems, structuring and improving federal programs, and decreasing costs. (SLD)

Case studies of 6 students with moderate/severe mental retardation investigated the impact of the federal transition mandate on student outcomes. Data revealed that high school programs have become more community-based, employment oriented, and age-appropriate with an increased emphasis on establishing linkages with adult service providers.…