This guide is intended to help develop and implement an outcomes assessment program at the school, district, or state level. An introduction summarizes the purposes of this approach to assessment, which focuses on results rather than process. A four-step process is outlined. The first step is to establish a solid foundation for assessment efforts,…

The purpose of these guidelines is to help the reader organize and lead a study circle--a participatory, democratic discussion group that focuses on a social or political issue. It provides detailed instructions on how to organize and lead a successful study circle. Following the introduction, section 2 focuses on the role of the organizer and…

Noting that every community is faced with providing high quality, affordable, and accessible child care, and that child care resource centers (CCRCs) are among the best tools for helping communities meet child care needs with the combined resources of the community, this manual is designed to help CCRCs design a public education program to meet…

This publication consists of two parts: an overview of tech prep in Western Wisconsin and the Tech Prep Strategic Plan for Western Wisconsin. The overview combines reduced-size pages (four to a page) with full-size pages that include the following: the definition of tech prep; legislative mandate; rationale; benefits of tech prep; tech prep…

The Texas Education Agency has been developing materials to address issues related to the Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS). The PDAS was developed under a legislative mandate to establish a fair and practical appraisal process that acknowledges and reinforces good teaching practices and quality professional development. An…

The development of "New Apprenticeships" reflects the need to strengthen employment-based training in Australia. The strengths and tradition of Australia's existing system must be built upon; inflexibilities that reduce options and choice must be removed. It is a four-stage process: development of policy principles, establishment of a…

Mentoring at-risk students has become one of the fastest growing and frequently used strategies across the nation to help young people. This document examines the structure and implementation of mentoring programs. Chapter 1 discusses mentoring as an appropriate and effective strategy. The mentoring relationship is examined, natural versus planned…

Comprehensive evaluations of two dropout prevention/reentry demonstration programs, sponsored by the Department of Education, one funded under the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program (SDDAP) and one funded under the Cooperative Demonstration Program (CDP), are provided in this paper. Both programs were designed to demonstrate effective…

This paper discusses some of the common barriers confronting outdoor and experiential education teachers and presents strategies for surmounting them. The identified concerns and suggested solutions were obtained from in-depth open-ended interviews conducted with 10 outdoor education/environmental education consultants and teachers in Alberta…

This monograph, a supplement to "A Guide for Planning and Developing Guidance and Counseling Programs in Virginia's Public Schools," is designed to emphasize the importance of career guidance and counseling in the public schools of Virginia, and to provide specific direction for implementing a comprehensive program in kindergarten…

Developed from the Ohio At-Risk Linkage Team experiences, this guide assists local communities in organizing and strengthening effective collaborative interagency linkage teams for at-risk youth and adults. The guide proposes a series of steps, poses a number of questions relating to each step, and provides information about additional resources.…

This paper looks at the recruitment and retention of international students for study in academic programs in the United States from the point of view of how institutions of higher education can best plan and implement such programs. The paper opens by defining international students as foreign students who seek their education in the United…

This paper describes a supported transition plan for preschool students with special needs who are entering a kindergarten classroom. The transition plan includes the following phases: (1) make decision regarding kindergarten placement; (2) develop a preplacement plan which includes a visitation to the preschool program by kindergarten staff; and…

In March of 1986, Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) instituted the Miami-Dade Teaching/Learning Project (MDTLP) to help the college improve teaching and learning and respond to the needs of non-traditional students. This book uses a description and evaluation of the MDTLP to present practical guidelines for organizing, managing,…

Chapter 1 In-Class programs are designed to improve the curriculum and instruction for Chapter 1 students, increase coordination and student time on task, enhance student self-esteem, and increase the student's academic achievement and test scores. This report describes a Chapter 1 In-Class Service model used within the Newark (Ohio) school…