This article summarizes the 1992 British report, "Getting in on the Act," which examines implementation of the 1981 Education Act and recommends provisions for students with special needs. Criticisms of the 1981 Act focus on its lack of clarity, lack of accountability, and lack of incentives. A new relationship between local education…

A survey of 1,017 principals in Ontario (Canada) indicates that Ontario elementary schools and secondary schools rely heavily on volunteers, especially in younger grades. Volunteers are mainly co-op students, community college students, and parents. Principals are key players in initiating volunteer programs because they believe volunteers improve…

This article argues that current models of intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities suffer from conflicting research results and practical implementation problems and discusses alternative approaches, including the need for comprehensive needs assessment, protocols for matching services with needs, interagency system changes, and a…

Describes the design and implementation of an assessment program for a college communication program that led to a new competency-based curriculum with expanded assessment procedures. (SR)

This article explains step-by-step activities that make up a collaborative research effort between university teacher educators and public school special education personnel. A research group, its members, and their activities in applied educational research are described including establishment, objectives, and first- and second-year activities.…

This paper describes present learning environments for students with mild disabilities, especially instructional practices that thwart student motivation for learning. The Foxfire experiential approach to learning is then outlined, through discussion of 11 core practices that promote student involvement in instructional decision making and the…

Discusses ways in which educational technologists can help educators accept changes in schools that are occurring through the use of technology. Characteristics of people involved in change are described; and a framework for implementing innovations is presented, including supportive organizational arrangements, training, consultation and…

The Autism Program at Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental Center (California) has implemented "deinstitutionalization" within a large facility by providing effective and appropriate treatment based on individual needs. This paper describes the design of treatment services, quality assurance mechanisms, medical care (including…

To gain appreciation for each others' perspectives, a Mississippi language arts consultant and a third-grade teacher from Iowa traded jobs for a year. As a consultant, the teacher found that classroom teachers were more interested in whole-language instruction practicalities than in theory. As a teacher, the consultant learned that classroom…

Investigates factors in the complex process of successfully establishing school-based clinics (primary medical care delivered at schools). Identifies 10 common strategies critical to successful establishment of such clinics. (SR)

A survey of middle-level teachers in rural and remote South Dakota schools found that teachers generally supported middle-school concepts but felt professionally isolated and limited by scarce resources. Principals can help by providing inservice education and staff development, alternative scheduling for increased collaboration, and encouragement…

Discussion of the Dutch Technology-Enriched School (TES) project highlights teacher involvement, including teacher attitudes; development versus controlled research; characteristics of the TES project, including collaboration with university researchers; and the progressive broadening implementation strategy, i.e., implementing computers in…

Partial results of an evaluation of an alternative criminal-sentencing program indicate considerable disagreement among stakeholders over perceived program effectiveness. It is argued that these disagreements are not isolated events but are likely to be inherent in any program with the potential to change established systems within a complex…

Describes the systematic design and implementation of a training program aimed at improving the performance of retail salespeople in the Canadian carpet industry. It was found that, although the program was originally developed to improve the salespeople's knowledge and skills, it was changes in their attitudes that promoted the significant gains…

Presents guidelines for the successful implementation of interactive video programs that were identified during the development of the Purdue Academic Learning Opportunity System (PALOS) Mathematics Project, which was designed to improve basic mathematics achievement levels of adults using interactive video and computer-assisted instruction.…