Conditions influencing conduct and impact of state-level program evaluation are explored. A model is offered as a guide for assessing conduct and impact, and its use is demonstrated by a case study contrasting the approaches of two states examining an issue raised by the Federal Health Care Financing Agency. (SLD)

This study follows up a study examining use of self-monitoring to remediate social skills of a young man with Down syndrome in supported competitive employment. The study demonstrates the efficacy of the follow-along component of supported employment and the use of a criterion-referenced assessment and treatment package to retrain technical job…

Use of energy-conservation technology and utility rebates can yield millions of dollars in savings and significant environmental benefits. The University of Rochester (New York) will halve its energy use within five years. Its experiences with consumption management, supply management, and student involvement may be useful to other colleges.…

Describes an alternative method for identifying exemplary practices in early childhood education programs. In this approach, parents and practitioners identify exemplary practices after coming to know the practices and the context in which they operate through observation, interview, and document review. Discusses methodological issues raised by…

Instructional leadership is studied as practiced by 44 school site principals, all graduates of the California School Leadership Academy (CSLA), a 3-year program emphasizing leadership in the context of a state-initiated school reform strategy. The CSLA offers hope that effective training for instructional leadership can be broadly implemented.…

A four-year longitudinal case study of changes in the teaching of reading and writing made by one female elementary school teacher is described. Changes in the teacher's beliefs and practices and the influence of reflective thinking and collaboration promoted by a master's program and research project are described. (SLD)

The changing role of the kindergarten in U.S. educational history illustrates the ways in which educational reforms are altered as they survive. From a reform aimed at altering the relationship between school and community, kindergarten has become essentially a way to get children ready for first grade. (SLD)

A corpus of 15 articles from 5 leading medical journals was used to examine how the communicative purpose of the different rhetorical sections of research papers and case reports in medical English written discourse influences the frequency and category distribution of the modulation devices (hedges) used in each section. (57 references)…

The five cross-sectional studies in this special issue are theoretically rich in their exploration of how principals exercise leadership that improves student performance. Notable improvements over earlier impact studies include a clear explication of theoretical constructs and models; use of multilevel, multivariate designs; more sophisticated…

A recent case study examined how the organizational changes from junior high to middle school influenced the science program for a large North Carolina school system, focusing on teacher preparation, time allocation, interdisciplinary instruction, equipment allocation, and information and leadership issues. Science instruction was enhanced under…

This case study describes a criterion-referenced method of assessing the speech and language of a young child who speaks an uncommon or unfamiliar English dialect. The method, Parent Child Comparative Analysis, involves administering an identical test battery to parent and child and interpreting the child's performance in relation to the parent's.…

Traces history of urbanization and problems created by growth of cities. Describes process of homogenization achieved by land-use regulations, income and education differentiation, and racial/ethnic characteristics. Focuses on the sociopolitical-economic challenges of the 1990s. Includes format for three lessons with a case study project and…

Searches for some precision in the discourse of whole language with respect to the role of the teacher as expressed in words such as empowerment, control, predictability, and authenticity. Observes and interprets the practice of two successful whole language teachers to refine understandings of these concepts as they are enacted in classrooms. (MG)

The formation of regimes (collective international schemes) for managing global problems depends on culture, history, and perceptions. The ways in which these elements affect bargaining among nations over issues of the global commons are discussed. Implications are reviewed for a regime to deal with atmospheric conditions and global warming. (SLD)

Describes a method of developing teacher-written cases with effective commentaries, noting the need for collaborative exchanges among teachers, scholars, and researchers. Traces the development of four sample cases, proposes four stages in case evolution, and frames a discussion of what was learned about collaborative case writing within the…