Training and technical assistance programs for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have emerged in many states as educators, administrators, and institutions of higher education attempt to address the increasing needs for enhancing the knowledge and skills of educators and disseminating the ever-growing knowledge of educational practices. This report…

New York's Action Plan, a comprehensive program outlining school reforms to be phased in over the next decade, stresses the partnership of local and state governments. It sets expectations for student performance, increases accountability, addresses quality of instruction, provides extra help where needed, and allows local flexibility. (DCS)

The potential for expanding job opportunities for college students to help cover expenses and provide valuable experiences was evaluated, based on an informal survey of federal, state, and institutional work-study programs. The focus is on recent innovations and possibilities for improvement. The U.S. Department of Education administers two…

A proposal for developing models to enhance the teaching profession is described, along with the 1983-1984 activities of the Task Force on Excellence in Education of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The Task Force proposed that during the 1984-1985 academic year AASCU should conduct a competition among its…

A need for the development of a policy research base regarding state implementation pf evidence-based practice (EBP) is emphasized. Efforts are made on how to make use of EBP in everyday clinical practice as a means of improving outcomes in six states.

Recent work has shown that many state supported school counseling programs have not developed working statewide program evaluation schemas. This study examined two exemplary examples of state level program evaluation. Mixed-method case studies were created and then analyzed across cases to reveal common themes and best practices. The findings…

The comprehensive study of California's child care delivery system reported in this document was designed to: (1) identify the unmet child care needs of California families; (2) develop a comprehensive vision of quality child care services; (3) examine the inefficiencies in the current system; (4) and draft specific recommendations for federal,…

The extent to which current staff development mechanisms in Virginia meet adult basic education (ABE) teachers' needs for skill and knowledge development was the focus of an evaluation. (The state's staff development mechanisms were identified as a centralized resource center, a regionalized training program, a centralized annual conference, and a…

Describes South Dakota's Technology for Teaching and Learning Academy (TTL), a statewide program for teacher training opportunities to help integrate technology into the schools and to enhance students' educational opportunities. Discusses TTL objectives; evaluation results; and planned program refinement. (LRW)

An evaluation of Oregon's professional technical education and work force programs was conducted through examination of handbooks for high school and community colleges, secondary education enrollment reports, state employment division documents, Workforce 2000 applications, and interim and final reports on professional technical education and…

In 1991-92, a study was conducted to refine and implement a system for evaluating the California Community Colleges' vocational education special projects funded under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. The study focused on the 110 projects funded in 1988-89 and 1989-90, assessing their achievement of federal and state goals.…

The Iowa Adult Basic Education Assessment Study was conducted to document the qualities of excellence, accountability, and purpose that are present in Iowa's adult basic education (ABE) program. A six-step documentation procedure included creation of an ABE task force; submission of written assessment reports from ABE coordinators; development,…

A study examined whether the Minnesota State Board of Vocational Education has adequately implemented recommendations made in a 1983 evaluation of postsecondary vocational education programs. It focused particularly on how the board and its management have responded to problems of low job placement rates and low student-teacher ratios in some…

During the National Project for State Community Education Planning and Development, the following main activities were accomplished: (1) each state received (or was eligible for) a State Community Education Planning Assistance Award for developing or updating a 5-year state plan for community education (1988-1993); (2) a planning and training…

This report makes recommendations to the 1987 Minnesota Legislature on some actions that can be taken to improve Minnesota's child care system and make it work more effectively. The first section of the report documents the growing need for child care, emphasizing the number of children in Minnesota, the number of women in the labor force, changes…