This inventory was developed to serve as a working tool to help local education agencies review existing policies and practices that may negatively affect students' achievement and encourage their dropping out, especially in grades 7 through 12. The following areas are covered: (1) instruction; (2) discipline; (3) support services; (4) attendance;…

This synthesis report summarizes a conference organized to examine the current situation regarding the continuing education and training of adults in the European Community and to formulate proposals for action. Some 60 conference participants examined various research reports, conducted discussions, and presented papers on three major topics:…

Most of the nonmetropolitan poor live in a household with at least one worker. In 1987, 70% of nonmetro poor family heads who were not ill, disabled, or retired worked for at least part of the year, and 24% worked full time, year-round. The employed proportion of the poor was significantly larger in nonmetro than metro areas. Despite a lengthy…

This report describes 80 exemplary projects that were identified in a national survey of Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Title III projects. It examines the likely reasons for the success of eight of the projects and discusses the policy implications of the eight case studies. Of these eight projects only one (the job training project in…

Blue ribbon commissions in the United States from 1965-1983 are discussed with attention to what makes a commission effective, the history of blue ribbon commissions, features of a commission, whether these commissions are useful on campus, and criticisms of blue ribbon commissions. Factors that contribute to the effectiveness of a blue ribbon…

A summary of the school restructuring movement and an outline of strategies for implementation are presented. The underlying principles of restructuring are included in four broad strategies, which include school-based management, teacher empowerment, voice/choice, and teaching for understanding. New responsibilities for state policymakers include…

Intended as the beginning of an ongoing review of the California Community Colleges' (CCC) vocational education programs, academic certificate and degree programs, and short-term job skills and retraining programs, this paper sets out to: define economic development and clarify its role in the community college context; develop a consensus among…

This document reports the results of a follow-up survey of 34 Association of Research Libraries member libraries which was conducted in 1989 to measure changes that had taken place in the administration of computer files (CF)--previously referred to as machine readable data files--since the original survey in 1984. It is noted that this survey…

Curriculum touches all members of a school's community. It is not surprising that something of great importance is influenced by many groups. At this crutial time, school boards should define their role in curriculum and encourage positive change based on sound decisions regarding what knowledge, skills, competencies, attitudes, and values…

The Second Annual Federal Forecasters Conference, "Forecasting and Public Policy", provided a forum where forecasters from various Federal agencies could meet and discuss aspects of forecasting in the U.S. Government. A total of 140 forecasters from 42 Federal agencies and other organizations attended the conference. Opening remarks by…

Misinformation at the point of implementation for educational policy is a serious problem with legal as well as financial implications. As is apparent in public education when central authority for policy making increases due to shifts in power and control, and local decision making decreases, as in public education, local districts and individual…

This working paper outlines several issues that federal and state policymakers face in implementing the Carl Perkins Amendments of 1990. Each of 11 issues is presented with a brief comment outlining several alternatives, to serve as the basis for discussion. Since it is designed to stimulate discussion, this document does not present any…

How can research and practice can be linked together to improve vocational education? Vocational education researchers should conduct research that can directly benefit policy makers and practitioners and present their findings in ways that influence the improvement of policy and practice. Three basic assumptions need to be recognized: (1) the…

This paper discusses the need for developing provincial/state, regional, and district partnerships to provide critical support for library media programs at the building level. It maintains that the experts who provide leadership at each level must be strong advocates for the integration of the library media program into all aspects of the…

This policy review presents the views and proposals of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) concerning development goals and strategies for the 1990s. A brief review of the previous development decades in the first section is followed by an overview of the evolution of the situation of children in the 1980s. The third section summarizes the…