Lists the strengths of small schools and offers hints to improve the educational program in small schools. (JM)

Strategies for strengthening foreign language departments involve gathering information about proficiency levels, course evaluations, language requirements for entrance, clarifying both student and institutional needs, developing resources, and, sometimes, changing institutional policies. The ways in which these steps may be accomplished are…

The author presents a developmental model designed to help productivity improvement and professional development become an integral part of the natural everyday work experience. Examples and a summarized model are included. (CT)

Describes how Coca-Cola's training department identified problems in the use of a video training package and made improvements that expanded the potential of the corporation-wide training network. (SK)

Reveals the author's extensive work in educational planning and indicates the complexity, frustrations, and rewards of effecting change in educational practice. (Editor/RK)

Compares fine arts and the art of training design. Suggests ways to design programs creatively to transform people's performance: (1) break the rhythm; (2) combine apples and oranges; (3) get out of order; (4) toy with success; and (5) put on a good show. (JOW)

Describes how the field experience for students of educational administration at Northwest Missouri State University was restructured, by defining responsibilities, adding a research component, and clarifying the evaluative process. (SR)

Discusses the significant differences between the former process of evaluation and the new assessment movement as they define the communication discipline. Suggests the articles in this special issue will contribute to an understanding of the assessment process and will provide strategies and direction for implementing or adapting methods for…

The functional relation between feedback and improved writing of Individual Habilitation Plan objectives in four adult service agencies serving the retarded was assessed. The agencies improved the quality of their written objectives after receiving feedback from the case manager and maintained those gains 18 months after feedback was terminated.…

Examines the logical and psychological aspects of competency-based staff development programs. Analyzes myths of competency-based learning (CBL) and indicates that incorporating principles of CBL with those of adult learning may be a way to improve staff development programs. (JOW)

A quizzical view of the traditional mentoring approach available to new scholars in the field of education is presented. Suggestions are made for broadening and deepening of the mentorship system so that it might better serve the needs of new colleagues and of the schools and pupils. (JD)

Research on staff development in rural and non-rural settings provides guidelines for effective practice. Research on rural staff development, however, must be increased and become more systematic and focused. (JD)

The author discusses his success at obtaining funds to improve his vocational agriculture program in a small school district. He covers such topics as (1) local sources of funding, (2) outside sources, (3) proposal writing, and (4) costs and benefits. (CH)

Five articles respond to the Child Centers study in this issue: (1) discusses reasons why child care providers are rated low; (2) suggests heeding constructive recommendations made by the study team; (3) analyzes impact of mediocre care on black children; (4) examines effect of making the study public; and (5) presents study findings that reflect…

Discusses study findings of the "Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers" that support the position that efforts of center directors to provide quality childcare services are often undermined by purchasing practices of parents and public agencies. (DR)