Highlights some of the major challenges state policymakers in the fields of aging and developmental disabilities will face in the years ahead and pinpoints specific areas in which closer collaboration between the two fields might prove to be mutually beneficial. (ABL)

Thirty-six North Dakota rehabilitation counselors were surveyed to examine the relationship between burnout and expectations about selected job factors. Results indicated that burnout is negatively related to current job expectations, and positively related to job expectations at the time of initial employment and to changes in expectations.…

Effects of using dashboard stickers and signature sheets providing information on safety belt regulations were evaluated among 893 occupants of state-owned vehicles in three Florida agencies. Safety belt use increased significantly during the intervention phase in all three agencies and maintained variable but high levels for five months. (JW)

This study analyzed and compared the behavioral procedure standards of 39 state departments of special education and 41 state departments of developmental disabilities/mental retardation. Results are discussed in terms of systematic monitoring of procedures, staff training, procedures to increase behavior, prohibiting/restricting procedure use,…

In a survey of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) complaint managers in 35 states, most respondents believed that neither educator nor parental awareness of the state complaint procedure had increased since its reinsertion into the 1992 IDEA regulations. A majority concluded that complaint procedures had reduced due-process…

The authors report on a national survey of administrators and program specialists at 43 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies concerning the impact of federal employment legislation and rehabilitation policies on the provision of services to consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The article focuses on 5 initiatives enacted to enhance…

The South Dakota Arts Council submitted this FY 2006 annual report to the Governor and Legislature. It presents the 530 grants that were awarded with funds from the State of South Dakota and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Fiscal Year 2006 grant funds of $977,000 generated $12 million in local cash matching funds. These…

Background: US schools employ an estimated 6.7 million workers and are thus an ideal setting for employee wellness programs. This article describes the characteristics of school employee wellness programs in the United States, including state-, district-, and school-level policies and programs. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and…

Background: Family and community involvement in schools is linked strongly to improvements in the academic achievement of students, better school attendance, and improved school programs and quality. Method: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts the School Health Policies and Programs Study every 6 years. In 2006,…

To increase student achievement, schools and districts are hiring teachers as leaders to support peers in improving teaching and learning. Their roles are variously called coach, school-based staff developer, instructional specialists, or program facilitator. Yet though many have exceptional teaching skills, they seldom have a deep understanding…

This handbook describes a set of tools small communities can use to reduce the cost of drinking water and wastewater projects. It is intended as a desktop reference for two primary audiences: (1) local residents (elected officials, plant operators, and concerned citizens) for whom the book provides detailed advice on how to do conduct a project at…

This paper offers a State-by-State listing of the impact of foreign language teaching reform in the United States. Information for each State includes enrollments; foreign language assistance program (FLAP); systemic reform; standards, testing and assessment; agency or department restructuring and reorganization; and effect on foreign languages,…

The results of a 1992 nationwide survey of state regulatory agencies that are presented in this report serve to update information on the licensing of family day care homes that was gathered in 1991. Terms relevant to family day care are defined; commonly asked questions about family day care are answered; and regulatory requirements for family…

Intended as a reference for chambers of commerce, physicians, public schools, and other agencies, this directory lists services for families of people with mental retardation or related disabilities in South Carolina. First, the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation is described, including its service system, organization, case…

To answer the question of how to build the capacity of state and local educational systems to implement systemic reform, the National Governors' Association (NGA) convened two meetings of educators and policymakers and commissioned three supporting papers from knowledgeable educators. This volume contains an overview report of the conferences and…