This report chronicles the East Hartford, Connecticut, Parents' Choice Project--an education voucher plan. The plan was intended to dovetail with the school system's already-existing open enrollment policy and was to include the area's private and parochial schools, as well as all the public schools. The feasibility and implementation studies…

The study examined 17 Child Service Demonstration Centers (CSDC) established by the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped to develop and disseminate model projects for children with specific learning disabilities (LD). Federal guidelines specified that these projects should include the following components: developmental program planning,…

Investigates the effects of pause prompt and praise feedback procedures for teacher trainees working with parent tutors of reading. Indicates that (1) trainees used intrusive prompts when asked to help parents in any way they could to implement the procedures and (2) following training trainees used much less intrusive prompts. (JD)

Argues that the students, the primary constituency of the schools, have been omitted from efforts at school reform. Urges that students become part of a partnership with administrators, teachers, and parents through an integrated thematic plan that would make the student the center of the school universe. (FMW)

The Volunteers in Partnership with Parents (VIPP) program is designed to alleviate the pressing problems of rural families as well as provide early intervention to the children. The use of volunteers as partners in working with parents is the crux of the program. (JHZ)

The Family Needs Survey assesses the functional needs of parents with young handicapped children, including the following areas of need: information, support, community services, financial assistance, assistance in explaining the handicap, and assistance in family functioning. Field testing with 34 families indicated the instrument's usefulness as…

Guidelines for a workshop to make teachers aware of the need to set standards for oral proficiency in the classroom are presented. Oral communication skills must be considered separately from other forms of class participation to facilitate a more objective evaluation. (Author/LMO)

Promotes the development of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) programs as a way of educating illiterate parents and nonreading adults in general. Notes several programs of this nature already in operation around the nation. Describes some nonthreatening courseware that is being used to recruit more adults into such programs. (TW)

The development of models predicting progress toward the master's and doctoral degrees is reported. The models link department and student characteristics, student financial support, and student perceptions of the faculty with grades, involvement in the program, satisfaction with the department, and student feelings of alienation. (Author/MSE)

Describes an "Assessment Kit" to aid classroom teachers in mathematics. The two sections of the kit, Assessment Supplements and Lesson Supplements, present strategies for assessment as well as suggested classroom activities. (PK)

Offers (1) suggestions for improving college students' study skills; (2) a system for keeping track of parent, teacher, and community contacts; (3) suggestions for motivating students using tic tac toe; (4) suggestions for using etymology to improve word retention; (5) a word search grid; and (6) suggestions for using postcards in remedial reading…

Discusses the role of early childhood teacher educators in recognizing the necessity to advocate for child care staff and its resulting benefits for children. Recommends that such advocacy can be woven into the teacher education curriculum and that students should actively participate and be provided role models to encourage development of active…

Describes the goals and outcomes of the "We Love Science Day" programs that resulted from the inservice course, "Creative Integration of Science in Elementary Education" for Pennsylvania teachers. Provides samples of the hands-on activities that were offered to students, parents, and teachers. Includes a calendar of…

Spanish-speaking families (N=58) of deaf children participated in a two-year televised trilingual (Spanish, English, and Sign Language) class through the project "A Mass Media Approach to Sign Language Instruction for Spanish-Speaking Parents of Deaf Children." Evaluation revealed that over 85 percent demonstrated positive change in…

A staff supervision and classroom management program to increase involvement in functional task activities (e.g., self-help, leisure, social/communication) was implemented in three classes serving 19 students (ages 11-36) with profound mental and physical handicaps. Large increases in functional task involvement and smaller increases in student…