Compares results from three national surveys of fundraising in public libraries with the results of a survey done of public libraries in Kentucky. Discusses the role of Friends groups; obstacles identified by library directors; and the relationship between private and public dollars. (Author/LRW)

Statewide achievement testing programs in public schools are examined from a historical perspective over 150 years. Written tests, standardized tests, intelligence tests, and test batteries are considered. A survey of present programs demonstrates a wide variety that is attributable to the ad hoc origins of these programs. (SLD)

Three Maine studies examined the school-to-work transition of special needs students, focusing on (1) transition-related programs, policies, and practices in Maine secondary schools; (2) educator attitudes toward and opinions about transition services; and (3) employment outcomes of special education high school graduates. (SV)

This study surveyed 24 physically and mentally disabled persons and 18 parents of physically and mentally disabled dependents using nongovernment welfare organizations in southeast Queensland. Topics probed included accessibility of information and services, consumer choice in service provision, quality of services, inadequacies in service…

A statewide survey of 212 Vermont parents and practitioners examined acceptance and implementation of 9 "best educational practices" (identified by literature review and expert opinion) for students with severe handicaps. Although results indicated high acceptance of the best practices, there was a marked gap between acceptance and…

This New Jersey survey found that 67 teachers of preschool handicapped children were more stringent in their perceptions of the skills necessary for mainstreaming in kindergarten than were 63 kindergarten teachers. The survey also found that different instructional strategies were used by the two teacher groups. (Author/JDD)

Reports elementary school administrators' and teachers' perceptions of students' competence with microcomputers. The majority of survey respondents were aware that dramatic changes and effects of computerization exist in their schools. Implications for educators are identified. (RH)

It is suggested that some of the technology applied to state Scholastic Aptitude Test scores to measure states' educational performance (particularly use of a truncated Gaussian model) may make it possible to adjust National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores to make inferences about state educational progress possible. (SLD)

A survey of California college and university financial aid offices resulted in a rank-ordered list of 39 chronic stressors and similar rankings of stressors for each sector and job classification, and by employee gender. (MSE)

A survey of 10,259 North Carolina 7th-12th grade students revealed: alcohol, tobacco and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs; males and Whites were more frequent users than females and Blacks; almost 20 percent of 11th and 12th graders reported coming to school drunk. Results suggest considerations for drug prevention campaigns. (IAH)

Replicates a Florida study of high school students' decisions to drop out using data for West Virginia. Confirms earlier findings that the decision to drop out is based on the student's perceptions of the economic opportunities obtained by a high school diploma. (FMW)

Describes a project to develop a model taxonomy of exemplary international education (IE) operations from the literature and apply it to 65 Texas community colleges to determine the extent that they provide IE. Indicates that the model practices existed in few of the colleges, with only three colleges having all of the components. (31 citations)…

Reviews the history of libraries and learning resource centers in Ohio's two-year colleges for the past two decades, focusing on efforts related to networking and evaluation. Presents data from studies on learning resource programs published in 1981, 1984, and 1989. Includes a comparison of the 1988-89 data with seven national learning resource…

A survey of 166 high school students without disabilities in Washington yielded 7 categories of perceived positive outcomes of integration experiences, such as increased responsiveness to needs of others, increased appreciation of human diversity, and development of personal values. More positive outcomes were associated with more contact,…

Examined the extent of extra-year programs for kindergarten students in Texas school districts; identified procedures and curricular interventions; and established the growth trend of these classes statewide. Found that 39% of the 285 school districts responding had transition classes, and the trend for the state at-large appeared to be one of…