Presented are regulations and policies to implement provisions mandated by the Maine Legislature for education of exceptional children. Goals are given such as providing every exceptional child with a comprehensive educational program, and promoting acceptance of exceptional children within the educational profession and the public. Summarized are…

In the mid-1960's, the American Jewish Committee published a report on suburban schools' failure (or inability) to teach children about "human differences." Since then, there have been significant changes and solid progress in some school systems: new textbooks and supplementary materials have been published; new courses have been added…

Prepared as part of the Career Education Project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the paper deals with curriculum development and implementation. Using current literature on the topic as a point of reference, topics dealt with include: (1) the role of curriculum in career education, (2) the impact of career education on State…

Specific administrative and legislative steps are recommended for action by the government of the State of Hawaii. The recommendations are related to the following responsibilities of the State: (1) to promote occupational training and skill development programs appropriate to the State's needs and resources, (2) to encourage a program of useful…

A 2-year project provided inservice training to school personnel involved in vocational education and placement of trainable mentally retarded students in Pennsylvania. Project activities included a review of the literature, the development of task analysis training techniques, the compilation of a procedural manual and a job placement guidebook,…

Preparing disabled students for transition to productive adult lives involves careful planning between sending and receiving agencies. The article describes state and school district transition programs, emphasizing interagency planning teams (Oregon), cross-agency coordination and ninth grade vocational assessments (Minnesota), and field-testing…

Proposals to expand opportunities for children to attend independent schools prompt heated and complex debates. Proponents and opponents bring a number of philosophical and ideological arguments to public policy discussions, while lawmakers often justify their decisions on the basis of the perceived economic and fiscal impacts of the proposals.…

This report summarizes Year One and Year Two study findings and describes findings from Year Three of the assessment of school readiness with a strategic sample of children entering kindergarten in fall 2004. It is the intent of the Minnesota School Readiness Studies to use results to inform school administrators and teachers; parents; early…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act requires each state to submit a biennial plan to implement the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). This report summarizes information in the biennial plans submitted for the period October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2003. The analysis includes information from 50 states, the…

Reauthorization of welfare reform legislation has focused attention on the effectiveness of short-term training as a means for welfare recipients to attain self-sufficiency. Its effects on employment and earnings have been one focus of recent evaluations of federal programs. Although some Job Opportunities and Basic Skills programs produced…

This report investigated the financial expenditures of states for services for individuals with developmental disabilities and examined the factors that influenced the level of expenditure. Eight multiple-regression models are presented which explain 70 to 88 percent of the variation in states' total expenditures. In addition to the obvious…

School choice advocates made many advances in 1994, and many states seem ready to pass school choice legislation in 1995. This report describes the state of school choice efforts in the individual states. School choice advocates look for action by the Federal Government as Congress discusses ways to help states implement choice, whether by…

An analysis was conducted of the Alaska Student Loan Program (ASLP), especially as it was used for borrowing for short-term training at vocational schools. An immediate effect of the ASLP program was a rapid increase in the number of postsecondary institutions (primarily vocational schools); the peak number of borrowers was reached in 1985, and…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that explored states' use of extended school year (ESY) programs for students with disabilities during the summer or other periods when school is not in session. Six states were contacted to determine whether any changes had been made to their ESY programs since the inclusion of new regulations on ESY…

The Arkansas Advanced Placement Incentive Program served as a charter for the establishment, organization, and administration of a program designed to improve the course offerings available to high school students. The act provided three incentives: (1) one-time equipment/materials grants; (2) teacher professional development reimbursements; and…