Research has demonstrated consistently that participation in co-curricular activities benefits students' retention rates and educational outcomes. However, the applicability of these findings to nontraditional students has not been clear. An understanding of the factors promoting and inhibiting these unique students' participation is needed prior…

This article compares the organization and practice of primary English language teaching in Norway and The Netherlands, considering the strengths and weaknesses of the respective systems. It is based on surveys carried out in each country. Several issues considered essential to the success of a primary EFL program are addressed, such as starting…

This report addresses both why and how charter schools designed for students with disabilities operate their programs and provides information learned about charter schools specifically designed for children with disabilities through a series of questions and answers. First, the legal and policy context in which such schools develop and operate is…

This article reports the results of a survey of novice superintendents in California, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. The research provides a profile of novice superintendents and their opinions regarding the adequacy of academic preparation and the problems they encountered after entering this challenging position. Findings indicate that the…

Among the latest developments making a significant impact on the educational scene worldwide are generic competencies. In Australia, the Karmel committee (1985) produced a set of general competencies and also used the term "key competence." The Finn committee next developed the idea of employment-related key competencies in its report…

These four papers are from a symposium that was facilitated by Richard J. Torraco at the 1995 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD). "Performance Technology--Isn't It Time We Found Some New Models?" (William J. Rothwell) reviews briefly two classic models, describes criteria for the high performance workplace…

Differences in the performance of handicapped and nonhandicapped students on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test as a function of sex group composition were investigated. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted, regressing General Test scores on sex and handicapped group membership, and adjustments to these scores were…

In response to increased federal requirements for mandated services under child support reforms, several states have begun privatizing child support enforcement services that were traditionally delivered by public agencies. This report to the U.S. House of Representatives examines: (1) states' rationale for full-service privatization; (2) how the…

This study investigated the impact of task directions on the mathematical performance of high school students from six classes. Students analyzed data regarding school dropout by answering six short-answer questions and writing a letter discussing the trends and their predictions about school dropout. Tasks were scored using two methods: (1) trait…

The paper presents a model comprised of variables which are hypothesized to contribute to environmental knowledge in high school students. The model assumes that environmental knowledge in high school is a function of background factors (socioeconomic status and gender) which are in place before high school and intervening factors which mediate…

The Ohio Off-Grade Proficiency Tests help in monitoring students' progress toward Ohio's adapted model courses of study in reading, mathematics, citizenship, science, and writing. The purpose of this study was to provide item response theory (IRT) parameter estimates and descriptive statistics of the scoring categories of the short-response items…

This report begins by noting that, in the interests of developing a vigorous and professionally active library faculty, a major goal of the James White Library (Andrews University, Michigan) is to recruit, retain and promote librarians who are highly self-motivated and have the ability to support the mission of the library. It then provides…

A wide variety of potential indicators of graduate student performance are reviewed. Based on research literature, experience with recent and current research projects, and conversations with graduate faculty members and administrators, the various indicators are considered in two ways. First, they are analyzed within the framework of the…

This investigation into the effects of configural properties (properties determined by the interrelationships existing between component parts) used a selective attention task to determine whether intersection is a primary encoding feature or is constructed after slopes and heights are perceived. The method for encoding feature identification,…

These highlights are based on mail responses to a National Science Foundation (NSF) inquiry to its Industrial Panel of Science and Technology, and interviews with other research and development (R&D) officials. Although it is not intended to be a statistically valid sample of R&D firms, NSF's Industrial Panel includes representatives from all…