Educators are very concerned about the problem of students dropping out of school. The reasons for students dropping out vary from social to economic causes. Alternative programs or schools have been used since the 1960s to try to keep students in school. This study involved a literature review of research on the identification and remediation of…

This CD-ROM disc contains data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Follow-up (BPS:90/92) in the form of a Data Analysis System (DAS) public release. This DAS release does not contain all of the variables collected as part of BPS:90/92, but it does contain most that are of interest to analysts for descriptive…

The state of Pennsylvania has embarked on a statewide initiative for distance education called the Center for Agile Pennsylvania Education (CAPE) consisting of community colleges and colleges and universities across the state; Duquesne University has joined this state-wide consortium in which members are encouraged to provide courses in areas of…

It has long been known that science centers and other science-rich institutions provide families, youths, and the entire public with rich out-of-school science education experiences. This report describes a survey designed to document the manner and extent to which science-rich institutions are helping schools and teachers in strengthening their…

Recent advances in technology enable universities to radically expand traditional definitions of both "the classroom" and "distance learning." In this paper, one professor's initial experience using interactive video to teach learning theories to 29 undergraduate education students in 4 locations is analyzed. Class sizes at the individual sites…

A study was conducted of nurse educators in Canada involved in distance education to determine their perceptions of the unique role of teachers in the distance education teaching/learning process. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were held with 21 nurse educators with a range of 4 to 28 years teaching experience and 2 to 16 years experience…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the effect of termination of funding on a magnet-school program. The federally funded program was implemented in Forrest City, Arkansas, to eliminate racial imbalance in the elementary schools. The program was based on the assumption that with enough time and financial assistance, racial…

This publication summarizes recent research findings on home education. In particular, the booklet examines the movement's historical background; reasons why parents choose to home school their children; home-schooling characteristics, practices, and outcomes; and the impact on children's social development. Findings indicate that the…

Findings of a study that examined school organizational change associated with the implementation of open enrollment in Minnesota are presented in this paper. Data were derived from mailed surveys completed by 126 principals at the end of the 1989-90 school year. A three-way multivariate research design with seven dependent variables was used to…

This policy brief clarifies the definition of charter schools and explores their place in school restructuring and reform by describing existing charter schools in Minnesota and California, examining legislative and contract guidelines, and discussing the future possibilities of charter schools. Charter schools are sponsor-created and…

This document consists of all eight issues of the journal SKOLE published between 1988 and 1992. This journal contains original articles and reprints related to alternatives or innovations in education; critiques of other forms of education; theories of schooling, learning, and teaching; accounts of individual schools; and "how-to"…

This document presents a dropout prevention planning guide developed by the Office of Truancy, Dropout and Alternative Education of the Maine Department of Education, an office established to provide technical consultant services to public and private schools for identifying students at risk of school failure, and the development of dropout…

Although the demand for formal evaluation of alternative schools is greater than for conventional schools, the unique characteristics of these schools make evaluation especially challenging. Use of traditional instruments and methods may yield misleading results. Evaluators must understand the issues associated with the evaluation of alternative…

This report is a general guide for people planning a charter school. In September 1995 the Program on Reinventing Public Education, a collaborative effort of the University of Washington's Institute for Public Policy and Management and the RAND Institute for Education and Training, sponsored a workshop on charter school startup. This report…

This book explores the history and evolution of six innovative colleges, examining how these institutions have adapted and transformed themselves in today's social, political, and economic environments. The book contends that these institutions, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, can serve as models today. Case study chapters describe the…