Predicting the federal government's role in education in the 1980s requires being aware of existing patterns and trends, noting their interaction with likely federal policy changes, and assessing the possible outcomes of this interaction. The existing patterns, or "historical givens," include trends in educational economics and…

The process of determining textbook content and selecting textbooks for classroom use in public schools throughout America is highly political and raises many fundamental questions about the relationship between education as a social enterprise and other aspects of society--economic, ideological, political, and legal. This study focuses on three…

As part of their study of interorganizational collaboration, researchers present three detailed case studies of how regional education agencies (REAs) supply knowledge utilization services to the school districts they serve. The three REAs are the Wayne County (Michigan) Intermediate School District (with 36 districts), the Educational Improvement…

Suggestions are made for the use of local education agencies in the establishment of successful continuing education centers for teachers. The following topics are discussed: (1) the federal and state programs: a comparison; (2) alternative ways of viewing centers; (3) relationships with colleges and universities: some options; (4) regional…

The first of a series of self-instructional learning modules designed to familiarize users with Oregon minimum standards for public schools, this document includes background and expectations concerning Oregon's minimum standards and introduces the publication "Elementary-Secondary Guide for Oregon Schools: Part I, Minimum Standards for…

Past federal educational policy failures can be traced to three sources. The first is unrealistic expectations about schools' capacity for social reform, about the time needed to produce significant change, and about the degree of federal leverage over local school district behavior. The second source is the misconception that improving…

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATES AND FROM STATE TO STATE. IN SOME CASES SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUCTURE IS COTERMINOUS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND IS "DEPENDENT" ON THEM. HOWEVER, 78 PERCENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS ARE IN "INDEPENDENT" SCHOOL DISTRICTS…

Presented is an overview and model of the proposed curriculum development process in environmental education in Connecticut. Concepts and competencies are identified at each grade level and are designed to facilitate the infusion of environmental education activities within the existing curricula using existing learning resources such as…

In this speech it is pointed out that New Jersey assumes only 21 percent of the cost of education and, thus, has relatively little control over educational quality at the local level. To compensate for the wide discrepancies which, as a result, occur in schools, the state must set minimum standards of educational quality and must tax sufficiently…

Guiding principles, state laws, and state board rules and regulations are covered, providing school administrators with a ready reference in the field of pupil transportation. Divided into three sections, the manual initially covers administrative procedures including--(1) the purchase of buses, (2) bus maintenance, (3) employment of drivers, (4)…

This conference report is a compilation of the presentations given at a national professional development seminar for State directors of vocational education and their key curriculum staff members to increase their knowledge regarding curriculum improvement in the following areas: Persons with special needs, dissemination and implementation…

At a reading conference devoted to analysis of the impact of statewide testing of reading in New Jersey, the following nine questions were addressed: How can scores be used by teachers? How should test results be reported to the press and the public? Do state tests replace commercial, normed tests? Is the state test unfair to minorities? How might…

This resource guide on competency based teacher education (CBTE) and competency based certification (CBC) states that the degree of explicitness required in CBTE programs and CBC programs and CBC systems is greater than in traditional programs. A CBTE program must specify (a) what the learner is to do, (b) the degree or level of competency…

An alternative to the meager budgets which complicate the correctional educator's task is proposed in this bulletin. A correctional school district organization can be developed to support viable education programs for individuals within the penal system. The six states of Texas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Arkansas, and Ohio already have…

This booklet summarizes the legal requirements and administrative policies governing public education in Illinois. It is intended to provide a clear framework of educational responsibilities and objectives to guide local school board members and administrators in meeting their constitutional mandate to provide an efficient system of high-quality…