The major issue of educational quality is linked to the potential of national and state assessment programs. It is suggested that changes in assessment design, analysis, and reporting can significantly contribute to improvement in the policy development process. The California Assessment Program illustrates how state assessment information may be…

Suggests resources and practices that elementary school principals can use to help them fulfill their roles in successful reading programs. (RL)

Flexner's report on the procedures, agents, and effects of medical school accreditation emphasizes common sense and unstructured observation, rather than objective social science. Flexner would probably declare that lay people, rather than the National Education Association or the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, should…

After listing factors that research and desegregation experience indicate impede desegregation success, the authors present a model that recommends identifying new, effective, researched, and nationally demonstrated programs that would address these factors. (JM)

Noting that physical education is in decline, the author suggests that the reasons may include the expense and ineffectiveness of traditional programs. He advocates more commitment to physical fitness among school personnel and program changes to emphasize physical education's true objectives of fitness and enjoyable recreation for all. (SJL)

A study of the loss of instructional time experienced by elementary school students in the Austin Independent School District compensatory education programs resulted in the unexpected findings that both Title I and Non-Title I schools spent more than one-fifth of the school day in noninstructional activities. (MH)

A U.S. Office of Education (USOE) study presents a mixed picture on efforts of secondary schools to prepare adolescents for the world of work. (Editor)

Argues that program coordinators should think of their volunteers as unpaid staff, and should manage their volunteers accordingly. Presents tips for a successful volunteer program: believing in volunteers, ensuring administrative support, appointing a volunteer coordinator, developing job descriptions, targeting recruitment, screening volunteers,…

Describes New Zealand's Family Group Conference as a model for quality relationship between families and social work professionals. Examines adaptation of the model in the United Kingdom, noting how the model reasserts kinship as a valuable resource in all matters of care and protection, and establishes a clearer role for professionals as skilled…

Discusses areas of revision on the 1996 British Government's Draft Adoption Bill: aspects of the welfare principles; criteria for dispensing with parental consent; orders for stepparents; and the use of residence orders as an alternative to adoption. Concludes that resolving those issues would be an important step toward meeting the diverse needs…

Describes lessons learned from a qualitative study of 16 inclusive preschool programs. Lessons focus on the meaning of inclusion as it relates to organizational and social contexts experienced and perceived by families, educators, and administrators. Suggestions are made for addressing challenges without abandoning the commitment to inclusive…

This introductory article to the issue, which focuses on the preparation of special education teachers, discusses the different perspectives of winners of the Teacher Education Division Publication Award. Evaluates whether special education departments should work with general education in teacher preparation. Provides list of winners and their…

Analyzes the important challenges that researchers face in the creation and use of a knowledge base for restructuring teacher education in the field of special education. Promising avenues for research to meet these challenges are delineated and the critical roles of multiparadigmatic teacher communities are highlighted. (Author/CR)

Describes shifting perspectives of a large special education teacher education program in Florida in the process of implementing a reform agenda. Particular attention is given to admission standards for prospective teachers (reliance on test scores is questioned) and the curriculum and teaching methodologies of teacher education program.…

Explores history of Head Start and, to create another way of conceiving of the organization, shifting definitions and conflicting interpretations of parental involvement and staff development. Also draws on interviews with women involved with Head Start and concludes that the certainty and stability characterizing public policy since Enlightenment…