This report summarizes some of AISD's parent and community involvement activities for the 2004-2005 school year.

Because of their small size, small/rural schools could implement many of the nontraditional instructional practices found in alternative schools, such as: small group instruction, individual study contracts, block scheduling arrangements, projects, community-based learning experiences, outdoor education, cross age tutoring, development of…

This report was based on the author's study in China in 1980-81 and on the findings of other observers, Chinese data, and analyses of the post-Mao adult education system (1977-1982). It focuses particularly on the shifts in adult education priorities and programs and on the political and pedagogical debates. (SSH)

Describes the many educational and employment aid programs to assist counselors working with our fastest growing minority population, Americans of Spanish ancestry, now totalling over twelve million. Notes efforts to accommodate differences among the groups (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and others) and lists publications providing helpful data.…

Describes how a school district in the mostly poor or working class Union City, New Jersey "remade" its schools before integrating technology. They adopted a whole-language approach, which facilitated other changes: replacement of old texts with classroom libraries of authentic literature; interdisciplinary scheduling; removal of pullout…

Assessed the effects of a six-week extracurricular hands-on science program using portfolio artifacts, inquiry-guided exploration, and socially assisted learning on interest and learning about biology in third, fourth, and fifth graders. Found significant increases in science interest and improvement in problem-solving skills. Girls had more…

Presents an annotated bibliography of educational resources from the ERIC database related to democratic education. The materials include digests, monographs, journal articles, and academic papers. The citations include all relevant bibliographic information and a short abstract, as well as, information on ordering and locating the materials. (MJP)

The report of the President's Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans expresses concern that with federal block grants to states and fewer federal mandates, emphasis on Latino educational issues and enforcement of related federal laws will diminish. Findings show inadequate school funding, treatment of bilingualism as a…

Presents a lesson plan that explores the importance of the environment for 19th-century frontier settlers and the conflict between ranchers and small farmers over appropriate land use. Students watch a video movie, "The Sea of Grass"; read selections from "O Pioneers!"; and write a compare/contrast essay. (MJP)

Describes instructional strategies using primary sources in middle school history instruction. Maintains that students need to make critical, personal connections to material before they understand it. The strategies examined use visual aids, living history presentations, realia, music, and primary documents. (MJP)

Twelve articles focusing on the issue of cooperative collection management describe the history and current status of specific projects within the Illinois Library and Information Network. The last article summarizes the status of coordinated cooperative collection management in Illinois, clarifies terminology, and speculates on future…

Describes the automation process in a library resources center in a small rural school district. Topics discussed include long-range planning; retrospective conversion for an online catalog; library automation software vendors; finances; training; time savings; CD-ROM products; telecomputing; computer literacy skills; professional development…

Maintains that time and money are significant variables affecting the way art is taught. Reports on a survey of elementary art teachers. Finds that the teachers perceive themselves to be undervalued, have little planning time, and are provided with limited budgets to achieve educational objectives. (CFR)

This article describes experiences encountered in making the transition from a traditional pull-out treatment approach for students with speech-language impairments to a collaborative-consultative model. The two factors identified as key to the success of the program were flexibility and perseverance. (Author/JDD)

Describes the creation and purpose of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (CARL), the subsequent development of CARL Systems, and its current research projects. Topics discussed include online catalogs; UnCover, a journal article database; full text data; document delivery; visual images in computer systems; networks; and implications for…