Uses the home-education policy arena as a lens through which to view changing beliefs and practices about student assessment. The home-education policies of 10 states illustrate issues relating to accountability in public and private schools and the use of standardized tests. (SLD)

Reviews the implementation of the Tech Prep Associate Degree Program in Ohio. Discusses six components of the state's approach to establishing Tech Prep, the program's current status, and linkages with other state and national education reform efforts. Suggests that strong state leadership and the active participation of postsecondary institutions…

This article provides a legal update on the issue of residential placements for students with disabilities and discusses practice considerations in light of national trends toward greater integration and curbing of rising costs through providing incentives for community-based programs. Practices in Virginia are used as an example. (DB)

The University of Massachusetts Simmons School Health Institute delivers a series of professional development programs across Massachusetts to improve statewide delivery of comprehensive school health programs to children and adolescents. The programs emphasize student risk assessment, health program design and management, and school-based clinic…

Describes health problems experienced by the 12,000 migrants in New Jersey. Illustrates the needs for more attention and resources from the medical community. New Jersey programs, including school health services, are relatively advanced in protecting the rights and health of migrant workers, but a lack of resources limits the delivery of…

The Missouri Parents as Teachers project developed in response to a 1984 state mandate requiring parent education and serves about 85,000 families with children, ages birth through 4. Components include home visits, group meetings, and early childhood developmental screenings. Discussed are the project's historical perspective, project evaluation,…

Describes developments in the fields of learning theory, assessment, and politics of national and state assessments. Shows how use of these developments and modern assessment and evaluation methodologies can address some long-standing problems in Chapter 1 evaluation. Focuses on linking classroom and school improvement with Chapter 1 program…

The Nurse Academic Collaboration Task Force was formed by the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Commissioner to facilitate linkages between schools of nursing and state facilities, thereby improving the quality of nursing services and assisting in nurse recruitment for state facilities. The task force has identified practice opportunities…

This study provides empirical evidence about the sampling variability and generalizability (reliability) of a statewide performance assessment for grade six. Results for 600 students at individual and school levels indicate that task-sampling variability was the major source of measurement error. Rater-sampling variability was negligible. (SLD)

The CONNTAC program marks an attempt to develop an integrative performance assessment process that will measure knowledge, skills, and instructional repertoire of beginning teachers. The development of assessment center exercises and the critical role that scoring plays in exercise development are described. (SLD)

The use and impact of a $256 monthly cash subsidy by 1,283 Michigan families with children with severe disabilities were examined. Families reported such uses as the purchase of clothing, toys, sitters, special foods, adaptive equipment, and professional services. Families indicated that the subsidy had improved family life, eased financial…

State documents relating to assisting and assessing teachers were analyzed to determine the major areas and the levels of state control represented in these areas. A review of documents from all 50 states highlights the rapid growth in state mandates regarding teacher evaluation over the last 10 years. (SLD)

Iowa has the only state-owned and operated telecommunications network in the nation. The fiber-optic network allows schools both Internet access and true interactive televised communication. The network's many advantages to rural schools include the course-sharing league in western Iowa, which has worked through various difficulties of distance…

After 25 years of federal and state voucher systems in higher education, public colleges and universities find themselves financially shortchanged. Higher education vouchers (direct student aid) were developed to expand educational opportunity, give lower income students more choices, and support private colleges. Voucher systems produce greater…

Reviews the history of distance education in South Dakota. Highlights include interactive videoconferencing on the Digital Dakota Network (DDN); four video consortiums for K-12 schools; the Rural Development Telecommunications Network; the Electronic University Consortium; higher Education opportunities via the Internet, satellites,…