Examines trends identified in the American School Food Service Association's research-based "1998-2000 Strategic Plan." Forecasters are projecting that student enrollments will rise over the next five years, labor shortages will continue, competition from fast-food providers is increasing, food-service providers' roles are expanding, and…

Most helping professionals agree that social workers' historic ideas about practice are innovative. Discusses the implications for school social workers as other helping professions begin to endorse historic ideas about practice developed by social workers. Suggests that a new type of thinking that supersedes categories is required. Discusses the…

This qualitative study examined patterns of service use by 62 older people with intellectual disability from 12 Australian municipalities. A lack of collaboration between the aged-care and disability service systems was found, as was an implicit policy of redirecting older people toward aged-care services and away from disability services. (DB)

Clarifies the concept of globalization and explores how globalization affects national education systems. Compares eight mechanisms of external effects (borrowing, learning, teaching, harmonization, dissemination, standardization, interdependence, and imposition) and organizations associated with them. Effects have been largely indirect, the…

This article summarizes the current understanding of the "quality of life" construct as applied to people with mental retardation. It examines previous definitions and suggests a definition involving eight life dimensions including emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, social inclusion, and rights. The definition…

Recounts the story of one young man's wraparound team, composed of and organized by his friends, to illustrate the positive influence that peers can have when they are involved in the wraparound process. Provides practical suggestions for recruiting peers and for roles they can play on the team. (Author/GCP)

Surveys of Iowa secondary agriculture teachers in 1994 (n=102), when the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) began, and 1997 (n=141) showed that increased access to ICN did not increase its use. In both years, teachers identified obstacles to its use, including scheduling coordination, training, and preparation time. (SK)

Discussion of changes in the banking industry focuses on an analysis of 12 Internet banking operations in the United Kingdom. Topics include delivery strategies; customer demand and requirements; and an evaluation of banking Web sites that considers speed, content and design, navigation, interactivity, and security. (LRW)

Cross training is successful when based upon personnel documentation and when providing staff development opportunities. Weekly cross-training sessions should not interfere with delivery of public services. This article suggests how job descriptions can be developed to extend cross training into everyone's daily routine and presents an action plan…

Studies the record of three companies (Sabis International, Edison Project, and Alternative Public Schools) that manage Massachusetts for-profit charter schools in serving students with disabilities. The profit motive compels even resource-heavy charter schools to limit required services, use inappropriate disciplinary procedures, segregate…

Provides an introduction to school psychology and special educational services in Mexico from information gathered from literature, interviews with administrators, and a tour of facilities. Although the focus is on Mexico, the knowledge gathered can inform practitioners from other nations who serve children for whom immigration and a lack of…

Presents a positive response to Sampson et al.'s article (this issue [2000]) describing a cognitive-information processing (CIP) framework useful for improving career services. Asserts that the authors strike an appropriate tone of optimism and caution that matches the article author's own experience as a practitioner and a teacher of the CIP…

Describes Video-Based Supplemental Instruction (VSI), developed at the University of Missouri (Kansas City), as an interactive processing and delivery system that helps high-risk students master rigorous course content. States that VSI shows improvements for students at many levels and that participants of VSI had significantly higher rates of As…

Defines empowerment based on self-determination, collaboration, and democratic participation, and distributive justice. Identifies possibilities and limitations for applying these principles in child protection practice. Discusses necessary and sufficient conditions for the use of empowerment guidelines, and the dilemma associated with their…

Uses of the Internet for training include electronic mail, bulletin boards, downloading of course materials, interactive tutorials on websites, and real-time conferencing using Multi-User Object Oriented Environments. Some companies use "intranets," internal corporate websites to deliver training. (SK)