This sourcebook profiles approximately 80 programs that support the redefinition, assessment, and/or enhancement of quality in community services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Direct service programs, however, are not included. The programs and activities described are subsumed under the following broad categories: (1) statewide…

In 1996, North Carolina began a 5-year evaluation of alternative learning programs (ALPs). This report contains in-depth case studies of four ALPs during the 1996-97 school year. The ALPs were selected to represent different types of programs in the state, and include one middle school, two high school, and one elementary school programs. The case…

This publication presents information about the technical characteristics of the 1997 Florida Writing Assessment Program, Grades 4, 8, and 10. Descriptive and statistical information is provided for the census assessment, and the procedures used in prompt development, pilot testing, field testing, scoring, and item banking are reviewed. The…

This paper reports on initial implementation of a state required process for determining eligibility of children and adolescents for Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Programs. Three criteria are used for determining eligibility: a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder; impairment of one year's duration; and establishment of…

This prospectus outlines the key elements of the state-by-state report card which the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education is developing to assist state policy leaders in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of higher education performance in their state. The goal is to stimulate the creation of state policies that enhance…

Describes the energy conservation management communication network in the Northeast Georgia Area Planning and Development Commission, a ten-county regional planning agency. The authors state that the use of local citizens and community leaders in the energy conservation planning and program activities demonstrates adult education in action. (MF)

Describes a study of the effectiveness of the Colorado Core Transfer Program (CORE), or general education course requirements at all state community colleges. Indicates that students who completed CORE transferred more credits and completed courses at a higher rate than noncompleters, but that no significant differences in grades were found. (AJL)

In a time of fiscal belt tightening, many states will hesitate to launch new multimillion-dollar distance education network projects. Instead they will concentrate on regulatory initiatives to stimulate the development of affordable advanced universal service by the private sector. Discusses the limitations of state regulatory strategies in the…

Programs related to individuals with deafness are listed: federal programs, state vocational rehabilitation offices, regional and local programs, national professional organizations, the National Association of the Deaf, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, and the Convention of American Instructors of…

The methodology associated with the California Study of Elementary Mathematics is examined. The article includes an overview of state policy and a description of participants and data collection procedures at the state, school district, school, and classroom levels, including methods used to collect data for development of case studies. (TJH)

As a follow-up to a survey of state superintendents of instruction, multicultural education personnel were surveyed to acquire information on multicultural programs in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data indicate that multicultural education is thriving at the state level, with improved funding and increased interest. (SLD)

Asserts that assessment has become a leading national educational issue. Presents a chronology of events in California related to student assessment reform. Identifies the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS) three key elements: (1) individual student scores; (2) performance testing; and (3) curriculum improvement. (CFR)

The extent to which performance assessments can have unintended and undesirable consequences is not yet clear, but preliminary evidence suggests several issues of bias and fairness. Among these is the sheer difficulty of scoring complex performance assessments, as Vermont's experiences with portfolio assessment illustrate. (SLD)

Identified factors related to the recruitment, training, and retention of family child care (FCC) providers in two rural communities who participated in an FCC training program. Findings point to the relative success of efforts to recruit and train high quality family child care providers and the relative difficulty of retaining these providers…

Ohio's Commission on the Future of Gifted Education was created to establish a consensus of realistic priorities for the future of gifted education. The commission was initiated by advocates within the gifted education community and includes legislators, members of professional education organizations and parent organizations, and concerned…