Ideological bases of the current debate about remedial education are explored, and data from three urban community colleges are used to examine the interplay between ideology and policy is reflected at individual schools. Data suggest that colleges respond differently to state-level remediation policies and can help shape these policies. (SLD)

Examined a scoring anomaly that became apparent in a state-mandated writing assessment. Results for 3,660 essays by sixth graders show that using a spiral model for training raters and scoring papers results in higher mean ratings than does using a sequential model for training and scoring. Findings demonstrate the importance of making decisions…

Describes how, with the lure of tuition assistance and academic support, South Carolina's "Call Me Mister" program seeks to increase the number of Black male teachers in the state's public school system. (EV)

Presents the Pennsylvania State Coalition for Adult Literacy as a model for understanding state and local literacy coalitions. Cites elements of success in coalition building: trust, a sense of mission, strong leadership, and clear identification of the target populations of each member agency. (SK)

The new quality assurance system for nursing homes implemented by the New York State Department of Health in 1981 was compared to the previous system. The new system devoted more resources to on-site activities and identified more patient-care deficiencies and more repeat deficiencies. (SLD)

Reviews past extension reporting systems--Extension Management Information System, Narrative Accomplishments Reporting System, and Program Planning and Reporting System--and the mandates of the new Government Performance and Results Act. Highlights potential conflicts among the information needs and quality indicators of local, state, and federal…

This article examines the definition of preschool gifted education in Louisiana, describes a publicly funded preschool gifted program, and discusses issues pertaining to a parent evaluation of the program. The evaluation covered: certification and teacher effectiveness, instruction, inservice education, special education paperwork and program…

A program for legally mandated training of foster and adoptive parents in rural Oregon is described. The development of this program and its funding sources can serve as an example for other rural areas. (BC)

Presents an award list, arranged by state, that presents titles of children's and young adult books that received awards during the past year. The name of the award, the appropriate ages and grade levels (where applicable), and the most recent bibliographic information available are provided for each title. (LRW)

Describes the development of the Federal State Cooperative System (FSCS) for Public Library Data, a system that combines the annual collection of data from public libraries by state agencies with the reporting of national public library statistics by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Future plans are also discussed. (six…

Discusses the problem of teenage pregnancy in the United States as a major factor in the creation of an American underclass in a cycle of dependency. Describes legislation, programs, and proposals in the state of Missouri which attempt to address this problem. (SR)

Describes the development and operation of the teaching-consultation program of the University of Kentucky Community College System. This program provides faculty members with an opportunity to analyze their teaching behavior and make changes by working with full-time faculty colleagues who act as consultants. (DB)

Notes that California undertook a new commitment to improve the basic reading skills of its elementary students; lists several components of this commitment, the "California Reading Initiative." Describes the state's definition of a balanced and comprehensive approach to reading. Argues that independent reading is a crucial component and…

Examines how states are handling aged, overcrowded, and obsolete school facilities. Includes interviews with the directors of facility programs in Arizona, Ohio, and West Virginia to see what works and what doesn't work in state-run programs that seek to strike a balance between state money and local control. (GR)

The phasing out of the Teacher Performance Assessment Instrument (TPAI) in Georgia is described, with particular attention to litigation involving a teacher who lost her certificate after failing the TPAI. Other reasons for phasing out the TPAI are discussed. (SLD)