Since the first child care Quality Rating System (QRS) was implemented in Oklahoma 11 years ago (in 1998), 16 additional statewide systems have been launched and numerous states are piloting or developing a QRS (Zaslow, Tout, & Martinez-Beck, forthcoming). As QRS stakeholders across the nation look ahead to the next decade, it is important to take…

This guide contains 55 articles written by adult basic education (ABE) practitioners in Pennsylvania suggesting ways to improve teaching and program administration in the field. The guide is organized into four parts: (1) working together for program improvement, (2) teaching and learning, (3) developing as a professional and (4) appendixes (high…

This brief document profiles Maryland's Early Learning Support Network. The Network includes a group of early childhood centers in public schools in the state. The centers serve as training and observation sites for persons interested in improving the quality of their early learning programs. Two types of centers are involved: observation centers…

In California, the desire to do something about child abuse, fanned by repeated and often sensational media coverage, has led to an understandable but counterproductive overreaction on the part of professionals and citizens reporting suspected child abuse. Child protective agencies receive an average of one report a minute. There are over 300,000…

A literature search was undertaken to determine the degree of support for the 26 criteria for successful reading programs developed by the Alabama Right-to-Read program. The report includes a brief history of the development of the criteria, a description of the search process, samples of supported criteria, and a discussion of findings. The…

The training, experience, and temperament of professional school staff does not prepare them to judge the strengths or weaknesses of school programs or make recommendations for improvement. Suggestions for priorities in teacher training institutions to improve this situation are presented. (JMF)

This paper describes approaches that states have taken to systemic reform in adult education programs, approaches driven by the demand for accountability and high-quality services from legislation and other sources. It begins by defining systemic change and presenting a framework for understanding it. The document presents approaches in four areas…

Contained in this report are brief descriptions of 68 innovative vocational education programs which are presently underway in 42 states. These resumes are intended to help State leadership personnel in planning improved vocational programs. (BH)

Current staff and program development guidelines and forms for the State of Florida are provided. The institutional activities supported through the staff and program development appropriation for 1971-72 for community colleges are reported in tabular form. The name and object of each activity are given, followed by the functional area primarily…

In the spring of 1974, a sample of educators and educator-related groups in Alabama was asked to rate the importance of the 26 Alabama Right-to-Read Criteria for a successful reading program. In a second round of the study, a summary of round one results was sent to the entire sample, and ratings of the 26 criteria were again requested. Results…

Factors that have contributed to the sluggish evolution of an adequate planning methodology in environmental health programs at the local level are detailed. Areas of environmental health programs identified by the author as needing change include: management, the administrative model, program evaluation, and community participation. (BT)

As part of a series of reports designed to support the implementation of Proposition 10: The California Children and Families Act and to provide comprehensive and authoritative information on critical issues concerning young children and families in California, this report provides county-level commissioners and their staff with information about…

After 10 years of development, the California Statewide Automated Child Support System, run by the Department of Social Services (DSS), has been scrapped and the state has begun developing a new child support collection computer. This report evaluates the performance of publicly-funded child support collection programs in California, examining the…

Reports on developments regarding the expansion, quality enhancement, and identification of effective child care models around the world. Notes that several countries that have made substantial progress in developing innovative child care strategies are in the process of refining and broadening their programs. Highlights the program improvements…

Employer attitudes toward Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship Program were examined through a survey that was sent to 260 of the 733 employers involved in the Youth Apprenticeship Program in 1996-1997. Of those employers, 149 (57.3%) returned usable replies. Overall, the employers were very pleased with the Youth Apprenticeship Program's design and…