Leadership preparation is essential in developing critical skills of effective school leaders. Educational leadership preparation programs vary greatly in terms of program features, it is important to identify which specific elements are likely associated with program quality. Using multiple years of Initiative for Systemic Program Improvement…

Scholarship on the role of professional development opportunities for undergraduate students has highlighted the growing importance of internship programs. Different designs of internship programs have emerged as their numbers proliferate. Internship programs vary on key dimensions including integration of academic content, development of…

This article is a summary of a report prepared for the University Council for Educational Administration Program Improvement Project for the Wallace Foundation. This explores the research base for educational leadership preparation programs, specifically examining literature on program features. The review covers context, candidates, faculty,…

This article provides an overview of the contexts, the key features, and the evidentiary data--the criteria regarding candidates to engage in administrative work--for five innovative principal preparation programs. Short case studies and cross-case analysis of the sample programs are used to provide thorough descriptions. The five programs in fact…

As the efficacy of educational administration programs has come under increased national scrutiny, one area which has received particular attention is the administrative internship component. In Illinois, various professional, governmental, and state-supported organizations such as the Commission on School Leader Preparation, Illinois Council of…

Offering a primer on action research methodologies and examples of practice, "Students in Transition: Research and Practice in Career Development" responds to a dual challenge facing career development educators--designing cutting-edge career development interventions and demonstrating their effectiveness. Overviews of quantitative and qualitative…

Alternative programs in special education are often developed in response to chronic personnel shortages. At issue, however, is the quality of alternative programs and their graduates. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of a large special education alternative certification program that adheres to both professional…

Discusses how an employee services manager could not find qualified applicants to serve as temporary supervisors in Mead's manufacturing plant during the busy season. Describes the challenge Mead faced in its internship program, the corporation's commitment to education, the program, outcomes of the program, unanticipated benefits, and elements…

Nurse-intern programs, facilitating the transition from student to staff nurse, have flourished. The author presents a study of these programs, revealing how they are structured as well as areas of common concern. (Author)

Seven rural California counties participated in a teacher preparation internship program funded by the Education Professions Development Act. The 101 elementary teacher intern candidates--having a wide range of academic backgrounds, personal interests, and talents--first took part in an 8-week summer preservice experience consisting of (1)…

The State University of New York's innovative summer internship program bringing together 18 students between their third and fourth years to study functional vision care and vision therapy is described. Its history, program structure, recruitment and selection, and evaluation are highlighted. (MSE)

The purpose of this article is to provide insights useful to readers involved in or considering the design and delivery of alternative path programs by presenting (a) a chronology of the multiple definitions of alternative certification, (b) key components of quality alternative path programs, viewed through the example of a program for…

The purpose of this paper is to assist interested faculty members in designing, developing, and evaluating political internships so as to produce the best learning experience possible. Political internship is a program developed to teach college students about politics and government by exposing them to a "real world" political experience. It can…

The Saanich Elementary Internship Program (SEIP), a team effort between the University of Victoria (British Columbia) faculty of education and the Saanich School District, was investigated for the purpose of improving the preparation of elementary school teachers. The Saanich School District was primarily responsible for selection and placement of…

The Meadows Principal Improvement Program has two functional components and a research component. The functional components are designed to help improve the role of school principals in Texas. There is a preservice component to prepare new principals in instructional leadership and an inservice component to assist practicing principals in…