The Mastery-based Learning (MBL) Work Group has examined opportunities to increase student access to relevant and robust mastery-based academic pathways aligned to personal career goals and postsecondary education, and reviewed the role of the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) in supporting mastery-based learning. The Work Group members believe…

This article describes the 1st-year evaluation of a community-wide parent and family involvement program initiated in a midsized Southeast community and school district. The program consists of three major components: community-wide efforts, school-home communication, and home involvement. Formative and summative evaluation data were gathered…

Technological advancements and the "back to basics" movement have resulted in less emphasis on teaching about the fine arts. Arguments against this trend and suggestions for improving arts programs are offered. (DF)

This guide aids Chapter 1 Technical Assistance Center staff in conducting a brief (70-minute) workshop on parent participation in compensatory education programs funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidaton Improvement Act. The goal is to clarify the attitudes and perceptions that are needed to expand or improve an existing Chapter 1…

This article applies the business concepts of cooperative partnerships between purchaser and supplier to improvement of programs for gifted students. It encourages systematic liaison between parent groups (the purchasers) and school and program administrators (the suppliers). (DB)

This booklet is for parents who want to take an active role in improving the science program in their children's schools. The first section of this booklet argues that science should be a part of all students' education. The second section provides a vision of the curriculum and teaching in a classroom where students can gain the understanding of…

In this guide, the results and findings of a major survey of magnet schools are organized into a practical manual for school districts to use in planning, developing, and implementing new magnet programs or improving those already in existence. The guide is divided into three sections: (1) key steps in magnet program development (an outline of…

This handbook is designed to provide parents and advocates with the information they need to take an active role in Chapter 1 programs. It contains 11 chapters. Chapters 1-4 are designed for anyone interested in learning more about the basic requirements of Chapter 1 law. Specifically, these chapters provide a brief overview of the law, explore…

The goal of the Ad Hoc Technical Committee for Vocational Agriculture in Indiana was to develop a model and recommendations that would result in improved student knowledge and skills for the present and future, address labor market needs, and promote program excellence at all levels of education. The committee developed recommendations for…

This manual provides information for pastors, parents, and church members who are starting a child care program in their church, and for churches that are changing or expanding their child care program. Chapter 1 reports the results of a 1982 survey of child care in local parishes by the National Council of Churches. Chapter 2 explains four steps…

This guide aims to provide a practical and comprehensive overview for United Kingdom parents and professionals wanting to support family learning at any level--community, local, regional, or national. Part 1 sets out the case for family learning today. Chapter 1 defines family learning and explains the fundamental principles underpinning it.…

Written by members of a consulting team engaged to evaluate a school district's kindergarten program and make recommendations for the future, this report chronicles the district's progress in coming to more fully understand goals and problems related to kindergarten education. Specifically, the report presents the evaluation team's examination of…

This document presents a "Quality Program Indicators Checklist" developed with the goal of program improvement in classrooms for students in Kentucky with moderate and severe handicaps. The checklist evaluates program effectiveness in six component areas: (1) integration (interaction opportunities and teacher behaviors supportive of…

In 1992, the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Education jointly developed the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Career Academy model, which provides a framework for implementation of an innovative vocational education program designed to keep dropout-prone students in school. The program, which combines military…