Extension programs based on identified needs, relevant theory, and solid research too often fail to realize their objectives. Program implementation is acknowledged to contribute to program effectiveness, yet systematic attention has not been paid to the array of implementation issues that can complicate achieving program goals. We developed the…

This article features a major statewide initiative in North Carolina that is showing how a consortium model can minimize risks for districts and help them exploit the advantages of cloud computing. Edgecombe County Public Schools in Tarboro, North Carolina, intends to exploit a major cloud initiative being refined in the state and involving every…

90-Day Cycles are a disciplined and structured form of inquiry designed to produce and test knowledge syntheses, prototyped processes, or products in support of improvement work. With any type of activity, organizations inevitably encounter roadblocks to improving performance and outcomes. These barriers might include intractable problems at…

The materials on program development presented here were originally developed as a component of a five-day training program of the Women's Educational Equity Project of the women's center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The booklet's purpose is to provide users with explicit information on program planning and decision-making in a…

Seventeen guidelines for reading improvement programs in elementary and secondary schools are presented and discussed in this report. Areas focused upon include needs assessment, implementation, evaluation, philosophy and dissemination. The guidelines are: (1) identify the status of the reading program, including reading problems and program…

Presented in this document are a description of Chapter 766, Massachusetts legislation governing education for youth with special needs, and a compilation of guidelines and procedures affecting the core evaluation of student turned over to the Department of Youth Services (DYS) by the courts. Requirements of the Core Evaluation Team (CET) and core…

This handbook outlines 10 steps in developing a training plan for Head Start. The introduction defines training and lists the benefits of a training plan. The bulk of the handbook consists of a detailed description of the 10 steps for development of a training plan, including each step's purpose, directions to accompany work sheets, and questions…

The model described here was developed for use as a program planning guide by teachers recruited from business, industry, and the professions who offer courses to employed adults seeking additional skills or improvement of their skills and job performance. Ten features of the model are listed: (1) The purpose is to improve the competencies of the…

The model described here was developed for use as a program planning guide by teachers, many of them tradesmen and lay people, at the secondary school level, who offer courses to adults pursuing interests that will add meaning to their lives. Ten features of the model are listed: (1) The purpose is to assist learners in the pursuit of interests…

This literature review on continuing education and on continuing education organizational structure begins with a discussion of the participants. Participant demographics, reasons for enrollment, and deterrents to participation are considered. The role of higher education in continuing education is described in terms of the role of the community…

This document is designed to help state directors/coordinators become more knowledgeable about needs assessment in career education, particularly in reference to States' application for Federal assistance. The following topics are discussed in separate sections: What needs assessment is; who should be included in a needs assessment of career…

The five-step family assessment process presented in this manual is designed to facilitate the accurate, organized collection of information necessary for the development of an intervention plan for families with children. The materials contain the five forms that are to be completed as part of the assessment process, including a: (1) family…

This publication was developed to provide guidelines for persons conducting continuing education programs for community mental health caregivers. (This would include persons primarily involved in the delivery of health, educational, and social welfare services who also are involved in the psychosocial functioning of their clients.) Following a…

The need for early field experiences in teacher education is based on four specific needs: (1) the student need to know if he or she likes teaching; (2) the university need to know if the student shows promise of becoming a good teacher; (3) the student need to practice before assuming major classroom responsibilities; and (4) the teacher…

This manual is a guide for the training supervisor, specialist, or other official who has to plan, develop, and carry through a training program for improving the effectiveness of the employee development program, particularly in a governmental department of highways. The content is in three chapters: (1) Identifying Training Needs briefly…