Strategic planning provides a comprehensive, systematic, and flexible approach to charting direction. Lists an eight-step process and questions for strategic planning. Emphasizes the role of architects in strategic planning. (five references) (MLF)

Discusses different aspects of "environmental design" that include environmentally conscious architectural design, site planning, energy efficiency, home furnishings, and choice of construction materials for health and environmental benefits. (MCO)

This article reports the results of policy research survey examining U.S. government strategies to obtain data on counts of children who are deaf-blind and the issues related to this effort and its outcomes. Problems frequently cited were varying definitions of deaf-blindness among states and lack of accurate data on etiology and severity. (JDD)

This paper on performance assessment of children with disabilities clarifies terminology, proposes a set of critical issues for discussion, outlines historical and current trends, examines reasons for current interest in performance assessment, and reviews problems and considerations in performance assessment. (JDD)

A panel of 29 experts in gifted education defined the term "gifted"; identified 6 gifted education issues as being most critical; and suggested 53 actions for federal, state, and local government agencies. The most important issue was curriculum, followed by identification, teacher training and selection, special populations, goals, and…

An editorial and two articles on quality control in evaluation are presented. Topics covered include definition and assessment of evaluation quality and development of standards for judging quality. Programs inspections activities of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services are discussed. (TJH)

The paper describes an "Outreach Study" in a British community which identified 46 adults with mental handicap over 50 years of age who were not in contact with specialist mental handicap service providers. The study's methodology and process are described including a discussion of issues concerned with defining the population.…

This paper presents a definition of deaf and hard of hearing children with learning disabilities; notes the incidence of children with both disabilities; outlines roadblocks to learning; describes screening, diagnosis, and assessment practices; and offers suggestions for educational programming. (JDD)

In 11 innovative programs examined as part of a U.S. study on adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy, the philosophies that informed the ESL curricula ranged from literacy that encouraged personal growth or individual empowerment to literacy for social adaptation or assimilation. (Contains 35 references.) (Author/LB)

Criteria used in the equating process proposed in the literature are reviewed. The discussion begins by examining how equating is defined. The controversy over the best criterion, the utility of some, and whether a criterion is needed at all means that much work needs to be done in this area. (SLD)

Notes that, more so than any other category of special education, children with serious emotional disturbance remain very much underidentified in schools and that both terminology and definition of serious emotional disturbance (SED) under current provisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are at least partly responsible for this…

Outlines a simple view of reading consisting of decoding and linguistic comprehension. Assesses predictions of the view in a longitudinal sample of English-Spanish bilingual children in first through fourth grade. Finds support for the view. Discusses implications for reading instruction, definition of reading disability, and the notion of…

Attempts to redefine sexuality by new parameters for understanding male and female roles constitute a search for a new American ideology. The core issue is how the American nation will respond to a replay of the class war as a war of the sexes. (SLD)

Introduction of the advanced skills teacher (AST) classification into Australian schools is a poignant example of how discursive practices shape the lives of teachers through patterns of reward, processes, and criteria. In recognizing certain skills as advanced (and devaluing others), the AST process has encouraged, even mandated, their…

Based on the landmark "Gebser" Supreme Court decision, school officials may be held accountable when they are aware of alleged sexual misconduct involving a teacher and a student but fail to initiate corrective measures. Although districts have some latitude, they must follow guidelines and construct clear, enforceable policies. (MLH)