This report describes programs for Alaska's children. Discussed are the efforts of the Governor's Interim Commission on Children and Youth to construct a coherent, long-term, and effective children's policy for the state. A comprehensive system of services rooted in prevention and intervention is proposed for future long-term policy development.…

The role and influence of mandated testing in educational reform are reviewed. Mandated testing refers to large-scale (districtwide or statewide) multiple-choice testing programs used for policy purposes of evaluation and accountability, which includes nationally normed standardized achievement tests and tests custom-developed to reflect state and…

The national education goals express a systemic approach to reform which fosters coherence in the disparate elements of the education system. This report highlights the findings of research conducted by the Center for Research on the Context of Secondary School Teaching (CRC) in California and Michigan during the years 1987-1992 and the…

An international team reviewed the system of vocational education and training (VET) in Poland and analyzed possible alternatives for the future. Some of the main conclusions and recommendations were as follows: (1) the most crucial issue is to change the very "logic" according to which the Polish VET system has been functioning; (2)…

The objectives of the Launching Conference of the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) are reviewed, and its recommendations are explored. The conference participants considered how theories, teaching, and administrative practices in distance education worldwide could be used to design a new distance education system for a…

This report presents results of an investigation of possible reasons for the pronounced gender inequality in numbers of students served by special education in Wisconsin, especially in the categories of emotional disturbances (81 percent male), learning disabilities (71 percent male), and speech and language (66 percent male). The study found that…

The periodic review and development of public library standards are undertaken by the Kansas State Library to best serve the public interest by insuring the quality of the state's public libraries. Standards are defined for the structure and governance of libraries. Service objectives and standards for automation and technology are defined.…

This document provides the individual and panel presentations for the Annual National Conference of State Chapter 1 Coordinators concerning Compensatory Education Programs. Presentations and their authors are as follows: (1) "Chapter 1 and School Reform: An Overview" (Richard W. Riley); (2) "Systemic Reform and Educational…

This paper examines the causes for deteriorating school enrollment rates in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in primary education and especially for girls. The prevalent view that deterioration in school availability and quality are responsible for declining school enrollments in many African countries seems incomplete. Several studies suggest…

This paper reviews the history, the concept, the process, and several models of institutional effectiveness, focusing particularly on those using the Criteria for Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It defines institutional effectiveness as an ongoing process that includes strategic planning, mission, goals,…

The report was prepared by a task force appointed to examine issues related to the University System of Maryland (USM) ten years after its creation in 1988. The task force focused on key issues raised by stakeholders and higher education experts, including statewide goals and priorities for the USM; duplication and overlap of authority between the…

Designed to assist New Jersey school districts in developing and implementing student codes of conduct, this document begins by examining the need for policy and clearly established rules, the rationale for codes of conduct, and the areas that such codes should address. Following a discussion of substantive and procedural rights and sources of…

This hearing focuses on the discretionary programs of the Education of the Handicapped Act, which cover research, technical assistance, information dissemination, personnel training, and model demonstration projects and activities. The testimony focuses on the significant percentage of disabled minority-group students not receiving special…

As a result of the educational reform movement of the 1980s, there has been increased emphasis on joint efforts between the private sector and the educational system. Although early efforts focused on college-bound youth, changing demographics, a decline in the nation's productivity, and heightened international competition have increased concern…

This report identifies key policy issues and recommendations to improve educational, social, and cultural experiences for all black learners in Minnesota by the Minnesota Curriculum Task Force on Educating the Black Learner. Recommendations at the state level include the following: (1) establishment of a State Board of Education (SBE) committee to…