An evaluation was conducted of 12 higher education service-learning programs at 9 colleges and universities and 1 nonprofit agency in Minnesota. Research was based on interviews with individuals involved in local programs (program directors, faculty, participants, community agency personnel, and service recipients). Analysis of interview responses…

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), an independent agency of the U.S. government, works in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote equitable, participatory, and sustainable self-help development by awarding grants directly to local organizations. Its principal strategy is to support public-private partnerships that mobilize local, national,…

This primer on the state role in adult education and literacy (AEL) looks at how well the states are performing their leadership functions, current commitment, and how to improve their leadership capacity and commitment. Section I is an introduction. Section II explains how the adult education and literacy system (AELS) functions as part of the…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) examined the transition assistance programs offered by each military branch and their effectiveness. Data were gathered from the following sources: (1) program descriptions and administrative data; (2) structured group interviews with approximately 70 service members who had participated in the transition…

"Science Briefs" summarize the findings and implications of a recent study in basic science or clinical research. This brief reports on the study "Contemporaneous and Longitudinal Associations between Social Behavior and Literacy Achievement in a Sample of Low Income Elementary School Children" (S. B. Miles and D. Stipek). In two groups of…

Despite some weakening in the 1990s, partly due to sluggish trend growth, the Swiss innovation performance has been very strong. There are, however, areas in which policy reforms could strengthen innovation further and help Switzerland maintain its lead in the face of a changing global environment. Boosting competition, simplifying administrative…

This report describes credentialing activities that seek to establish standards and promote professional development in the youth development field. Part 1, Federal and State Legislative Activities, focuses on: legislation promoting youth development activities and programs; welfare reform and the need for youth development and after-school…

The materials describe Kentucky's strategy for reforming the state standards for introductory Spanish second language instruction. They begin with a course description outlining the shift in orientation from grammar instruction to development of communicative competence. A subsequent section suggests ways in which the teacher might identify…

This study evaluated student preparation for a course in calculus for business, management, and social sciences as a prerequisite for success in probability theory. The study included a review of the literature, development of an assessment instrument and cut-off scores, and review and validation of the study criteria, the assessment instrument,…

In independent colleges and universities, the committee on trustees is most important to the institution's long-term effectiveness. The charge to this committee should include the following responsibilities: helping the board determine desired board composition; populating the board with able, dedicated trustees and maintaining a candidate list;…

This study investigated the effects of different types of learning communities in residence halls on the learning and intellectual development of first-year students at the University of Missouri (Columbia). Information sources included existing campus data and responses to the College Student Experiences Questionnaire. Compared to 469 students…

The U.S. Department of Education's Partnership for Family Involvement in Education encourages individuals, partner organizations, and alliances, whether they are members of the Partnership or not, to develop and implement effective family involvement practices in education. The goals of the Partnership are to increase opportunities for families to…

Student activity funds may create educational opportunities for students, but they frequently create problems for business administrators. The first part of this work reviews the types of organizational issues and transactions an organized student group is likely to encounter, including establishing a constitution, participant roles,…

The Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights examined the extent of equal educational opportunity and educational quality offered to Native American children in Montana public schools. Fact-finding meetings were held in Billings (December 10, 1996) and Missoula (April 24, 1997). Chapter 1 of this report outlines the…

Community schools were created in Ohio to provide additional educational options for children in low-performing schools and to develop innovative teaching and management techniques that may be transferable to traditional public schools. In 1997 the Ohio General Assembly required the Legislative Office of Education Oversight (LOEO) to evaluate the…