This report is the fourth in a series describing the background, theory, and progress of the Differentiated Staffing Project in the Eugene, Oregon, School District. This report discusses the effects of the addition of paid paraprofessionals, or Teaching Assistants (TAs), to the unitized, differentiated staffing schools in Eugene. Specifically, it…

This working guide for the school bus supervisor shows how to increase the safety and efficiency of school transportation. Guidelines are provided to help prevent accidents involving school buses and to establish sound operating policies for school transportation fleets. The booklet points out how any school transportation system can provide its…

This 1974 legislation, known as the "American Folklife Preservation Act," was supported by approximately 200 House members and more than 50 members of the Senate. American folklife is defined as the traditional customs, beliefs, dances, songs, art, crafts, and other expressions common to a group of people within the United States. The bill…

This study, in the form of a research review, is designed to aid adult educators as they work in curriculum development and materials selection activities. Its purpose is to provide a guide for evaluation by providing recommended guidelines for the analysis of learning material, a suggested instrument for evaluation, and how to use the instrument.…

Recommends the following considerations for teachers who must cope with censorship in public schools: (1) clarify professional role, (2) keep community aware of curricular goals and content, (3) develop clear selection policies for materials and rationales for using controversial materials, (4) handle complaints with carefully constructed…

Presents effective methods for the discussion, sharpening, and enrichment of readers' responses. Includes methods to teach students how to choose a good book, an individualized and/or group reading and response program, and journal writing techniques. Provides a bibliography of Canadian children's literature for intermediate grades. (MM)

Explains how computers can be used to support the basic conditions for language learning and the teaching strategies for a process orientation to writing instruction that are identified by the Early Literacy Inservice Course (ELIC) in Australia. Recommends using computers to match children with books, and for group learning. (SKC)

Suggests that both boys and girls are interested in sports and recreation. Describes activities which utilize the topic of sports to highlight diverse vocabulary terms, encourage playing with language, and develop listening and writing skills. Provides an annotated bibliography of sports books for children. (ARH)

Responses of 259 school districts to a questionnaire about special education substitute teachers indicated that regional differences affected policies regarding degree and certification, consideration for full-time employment, and pay; while evaluation, training, selection, removal, and fringe benefit practices were consistent across the nation.…

A problem-based professional education curriculum in science and technology, designed to promote professional competence in graduates, is exemplified in Australia's University of Newcastle program. (MSE)

Ten major types of evaluation used at Britain's Open University are outlined, including assessment of access, needs, courses, student progress, tutors and counselors, instructional media, computer assisted instruction, other new technologies, and academic staff. References for further reading are provided. (MSE)

In conjunction with efforts to make more widely known the trend towards decomposition of the tenure system in American colleges and universities, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has examined conditions of full-time nontenure track faculty, part-time/adjunct faculty, graduate employees and new categories of academic professional staff…

This paper describes 10 factors that impact misguided perceptions of teacher preparation and teacher quality, especially elementary teachers prepared in highly-structured, university-based teacher preparation programs: (1) the offshoot of P-12 preparation, prior to attending postsecondary programs; (2) alignment of certification tests to state…

This digest discusses how secondary students with learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can investigate postsecondary programs and find the right college to meet their needs. It begins by exploring when students should begin their college planning and the role of transition plans in determining student goals and vision…

Looking back upon the centuries one would suspect that in earlier ages universities of medieval France and Italy were very different from the multiplicity of organizational and institutional forms of higher education institutions in modern times, and yet one would be surprised how much these old "universitas" and modern universities have…