Explains the North Central Association's Outcomes Accreditation (OA) alternative to traditional accreditation status. Reviews the Effective Schools and Outcome-Based Education (OBE) literature, and considers basic requirements for OA. Considers OBE compatible with OA. (DMM)

Reports on a study to determine whether there were particular recommendation categories that appeared in the North Central Association Commission on Schools' visiting team reports. Categories with most recommendations in all three states studied were related to facilities, staffing, curriculum development, equipment, and curriculum articulation.…

The primary purpose of state dental licensing boards is to protect the public, but clinical testing of dental graduates is not critical to this function and may even distract from it. Ensuring the continuing competence of practicing dentists is a more important focus for licensing agencies. (MSE)

Discusses issues related to the High Performance Computing and Communication program and National Research and Education Network (NREN) established by the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, including program management, specific program development, affecting policy decisions, access to the NREN, the Department of Education role, and…

Demographic changes, migration, and industrialization are having drastic effects on older adults in developing nations. Local programs such as Pro Vida in Colombia, supported by Help Age International, rely on the support of volunteers to improve the quality of life for elderly people. (SK)

This article describes a model project for promoting interagency collaboration at state and local levels to facilitate transitions of young special needs children and their families from infant/toddler programs to preschool programs. Project Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools (STEPS) has four major components: interagency…

The breakdown of traditional families and increasing numbers of at-risk children have greatly increased need for building collaborative networks to reduce disabling risk factors. Building children's resilience involves reducing overall vulnerability, reducing impact of emotional stressors, increasing resources available to provide for interagency…

Describes the general characteristics of family support programs in North America. Summarizes the rationale for such programs. Describes an example of a support program, the family resource centers in Canada. Outlines such key planning considerations as the diversity of today's families, needs assessment, program variety, and cultural relevance.…

The Coimbra Early Intervention Project was undertaken in Portugal to develop the first coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency program involving health care, education, and social service, using existing resources in the community. The program now operates regionwide and supports more than 100 families and children with disabilities or at…

An office of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind completed a project which updated over 5,000 client files through personal conversations with them or their relatives, using 7 sighted volunteers and 7 visually impaired volunteers. Hundreds of individuals whose service needs had changed were identified, and an ongoing process for…

Educational services provided to 14 children (ages 8 to 14) with head injuries in the United Kingdom before and after their return to school were analyzed. The organization of services and the provision of accurate information, training, and communication among different agencies are all found to be inadequate. (Author)

After many years of competition to represent teachers, the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers are finding common concerns and increasing numbers of cooperative ventures. Some local unions have merged; a general merger, in the interest of improving education, is being considered. (MSE)

Discusses aspects of the administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including operational and cost considerations. The idea of applying the FOIA to the legislative branch of the federal government is discussed. (Contains 64 references.) (KRN)

Reports on an analysis of the availability of publications contained in the 1991 "Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications" through depository libraries, the Government Printing Office (GPO) Sales Program and its Publications Reference File (PRF), and federal agency distribution centers. Implications for collection…

If the growing proportion of special-needs students is to receive the benefits of expanded and integrated social support systems, educational leaders must coordinate school activities with other community services. The situation calls for a radical reconfiguration of public service financing, with rewards for those who effectively coordinate…