As agriculture continues to change, the expertise of those who teach it must be strengthened and expanded. Illinois has instituted the Vocational Instructor Practicum (VIP) Program, which provides grants for teachers or administrators employed in public school vocational education programs to attend continuing education programs. (JOW)

Discusses the educational system's ability to meet the lifelong learning needs of the American workforce. Proposes strategies to redesign the system to ensure lifelong learning, respond to the changing structure of the workplace, and mainstream workforce training programs. Explores the use of transcripts with training programs to formalize…

Recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure that every Head Start program can strive for excellence; expand the number of children served and the scope of services provided; and encourage community and school partnerships to ensure continuity of services, facilitate state and local collaboration, and link Head Start with…

This response to five case studies of inclusive practices for elementary students with learning disabilities raises questions about bottom-line practices expected in inclusive classrooms, the relationship between classrooms and their schools and administrators, and how the case studies can be used to stimulate development of the next generation of…

Describes the growth and role of community college English-as-a-Second-Language programs in serving growing numbers of immigrant students, highlighting the importance of support services and networking. Reviews Florida Community College at Jacksonville's response to immigrant student needs and makes five recommendations for improving program…

Some of the major issues related to planning evaluations of federal human services national demonstration programs are discussed. Barriers to conducting evaluations are discussed for the policy level and cross-site and within-site evaluation contexts. Among the proposed solutions is the use of an explicit programmatic developmental sequence. (SLD)

A survey of directors of 61 Texas early intervention programs found that directors felt that program improvement should be the main reason for program evaluation efforts, that evaluating program goals and child progress are the most feasible strategies, and that evaluating program quality and family progress are the most difficult strategies. (DB)

This position paper examines the current Head Start training and technical assistance (TTA) system and proposes specific improvements. These include the creation of regional TTA offices, the use of satellite and interactive communications technology, and a reevaluation of the role of teaching centers, national training contracts, and Head Start…

The education establishment's approach to set Chapter 1 standards at or near the legislative minimum for program improvement has unanticipated outcomes that do not advance the improvement effort. These outcomes and the dilemma between the negative aspects of being identified and the positive objective of program improvement are considered. (SLD)

Describes the range of health or social service home visiting programs in the United States, examining the characteristics of successful programs, the outcomes produced by such programs, and the future direction of home visitation. Recommends that home visiting programs be voluntary, flexible, culturally sensitive, well-staffed, and realistic in…

Presents four articles on the benefits of multi-age child care settings as being similar to a natural family setting. The workshop titles are: "The Benefits of the Mix" (Katz); "Dealing with Staff and Parent Concerns" (Allison); "Multi-Age at Riverfield Country Day School" (Clark); and "Making Multi-Age Groups Work" (Bergman and Gainer). (LBT)

Addresses the inevitable change in the study of music in U.S. higher education through a parable that assumes the viewpoint of a historian writing toward the middle of the 21st century. Reviews the events that eventually lead to closing the school of music at the University of Granton, an imaginary school. (CMK)

Examines features of the alternative "new management" and some of the management practices that facilitate a high commitment to basic research in the private sector. Contends that most university research suffers from the use of discredited and inappropriate management practices. Concludes that managed research is essential in the new mode of…

Reports findings from a national survey of 385 day support providers regarding conversion of resources from segregated services to supported employment. Approximately 23% of all agencies and 37% of agencies with both facility-based programs and supported employment indicate that they had converted resources to community-based employment.…

Reviews and interprets some recent literature on substance abuse problems and treatments among women. Major risk factors include childhood sexual or physical abuse, domestic violence, and a spouse or partner who abuses substances. Discusses the enormous problems of access to treatment for women with minor children. (JPS)