This report summarizes results of initiatives established to achieve goals of the New York State Board of Regents to reform the state's preschool special education program. These goals, consistent with the provisions of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, view special education as a service to support…

This book offers new practices for raising student achievement as it advocates for responsible changes in the policies, structures, and operations of schools, providing a perspective to help educators face the challenges of professional learning on a personal level. Its 11 sections focus on: (1) "Introduction: Essential Questions about…

Recent studies have suggested that anxiety disorders in childhood may be prevented and treated with early intervention programs. It is essential that guidelines are available for health professionals to use in the development of these programs. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 explains the rationale for early intervention. Chapter 3…

This handbook is written specifically for Early Childhood Services (ECS) operators in Alberta, Canada, applying for Program Unit Funding. It is also designed to enhance the understanding of how assistance is provided to ECS children with severe disabilities by teachers, special needs assistants, parents, and supporting agency personnel. ECS…

This report presents California's standards, which are intended for use by local planners to design, implement, and evaluate beginning teacher induction programs. For each standard, there is a statement of the standard itself, a rationale explaining why it is important, and a series of criteria to be used by program designers and evaluators in…

This report presents findings from Phase 1 of an evaluation of the New York City Beacons initiative, a model of school-community-family partnerships initiated in 1991. Beacons are community centers located in public schools, offering a range of activities and services to participants of all ages, before and after school, in the evenings, and on…

This paper contains summaries of three presentations that explore critical issues that must be addressed before launching a non-traditional online degree program. "Student Orientation" (Cable Green) provides a comprehensive student orientation, including an introduction to technological infrastructure, pedagogical issues, communication…

This guide provides teachers and administrators with advice on implementing Alberta Learning's five-level English-as-a-Second- Language (ESL) Senior High School Program of Studies in their classrooms and schools. It draws from the collective expertise of senior high school ESL specialists and classroom teachers and from classroom-based research in…

The relationship between Indiana University Outdoor Adventures (IUOA) and the Indiana University Department of Recreation and Park Administration began in the early 1980s with the department providing IUOA with lists of potential graduate-assistant employees. If a graduate assistant was hired, IUOA paid the student a stipend and the department…

The purpose of this guide, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT), is to outline a model process by which graduate programs can measure program success and that can be adapted to particular circumstances and priorities. The first sections of the guide examine the…

Cooperative learning centers can provide educational activities for home-schooled children as well as support networks for home-schooling parents. This guide recounts development of a cooperative learning center founded by parents of over 70 home-educated children in upstate New York. Part 1 of the book details the development of The Alternative…

An adult educator in Butler, Pennsylvania, noticed that, although students who took the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) seemed highly motivated to improve their basic skills in mathematics and spatial relations, only 2 of her 20 students who took the GATB made a concerted effort to develop their vocabulary. Thinking that those two students…

This book provides guidance on developing an effective evaluation plan for adult English language programs, whether in the context of family literacy, workplace and workforce literacy, or general language development. With an emphasis on surveys, interviews, observation measures, and performance samples, the authors show how staff members and…

This study reports on a survey of mathematics and science teachers' beliefs and attitudes toward what they value most in a masters degree program. The survey gathered demographic data from 300 teachers and assessed beliefs and attitudes about the proposed advanced masters degree in North Carolina. Findings indicate that teachers are more…

Inquiry is an essential component of science. Furthermore, what students learn and how they engage in inquiry supported by technology is important to understand in order to promote science education reform. This paper presents an overview of work in curriculum and technology development and professional development. Collaboration with the Detroit…