The following similarities exist between the language situations of the United States and Australia: (1) both countries have developed and prospered through overseas immigration; (2) until recently, neither country has had a "de jure" official language, only a "de facto" one built around English; (3) in both countries…

The paper examines policy implications of recent trends toward state mandated assessment of higher education services. Two differing purposes of assessment, that of academic improvement and that of accountability, are distinguished. Current trends in how policy makers and higher educators approach a "new accountability" include seeing…

Controversy surrounding the definition of the gifted student, as enacted through New Mexico's Public School Reform Act of 1986 (S.B. 106) is examined in this study. The Kingdon decision-making model is applied to examine the reasons for the persistence of the policy definition of "gifted," despite continuing controversy. The summary…

Since 1987 Hezel Associates has studied how each of the 50 states is or is not coordinating the planning of technology, especially the use of telecommunications for education and related activities. The study documented telecommunications activities of state departments of education and higher education, boards of regents, boards of vocational and…

The first of five volumes on the means by which Canadian communities can reduce the incidence of mental retardation, minimize existing impairment, and improve the quality of life of the mentally retarded, this booklet provides an overview of the types of conditions leading to mental handicap and what can be done to prevent or ameliorate those…

Based upon the experiences of Delgado Community College (DCC), this series of presentations examines the use of needs assessment as a planning tool. After explaining the way needs assessment is defined at DCC, Carol Hopson discusses the decisions to be made before beginning a needs assessment with respect to: (1) institutional willingness to abide…

The Task Force on School Leadership and Management was charged with examining incentives that states can develop to encourage effective management at the district and school leadership level. Four papers are presented in this report: (1) "School Leadership and Management" (Cindy K. Currence); (2) "A Policymaker's Guide to Improving…

The California State Job Training Coordinating Council (SJTCC) appointed a youth subcommittee to determine the role that the SJTCC should play in preventing inadequate skill development and lack of jobs from destroying the working lives of California's high-risk youth. The subcommittee identified the state's high-risk youth as those who have…

Up until now Hispanics have not gotten involved in the policy analysis field. By learning to specifically assess the actual or potential impact of alternate policies or programs, it will be possible to help decision makers adopt policies which are more equitable to Hispanics. The following steps may help an individual carry out policy analysis:…

This paper focuses specifically on paper and pencil testing as a tool contributing to a quality teaching force. Information is presented for those who have responsibility or interest in state level policies for using such tests to promote educational quality. Using institutional stages of a teacher's career as an organizing scheme for test use,…

The view that peer review and faculty self-government are detrimental is expressed. Peer review, a procedure in which the conduct of faculty members is subject to review by other faculty members, is used primarily in personnel and research decisions (e.g., tenure, promotion, and/or salary increases, and to assess grant or contract proposals).…

Participants in the "Beyond the Looking Glass" Conference established a set of objectives for each of the three teacher education constituencies: practice, policy, and research. The teacher education continuum of preservice, induction, and inservice served as one dimension of a framework for structuring dialogue, discussion, and…

This statement of principles embodies a general approach to the nature and objectives of preservation and conservation work relating to library materials. It does not aim to provide a comprehensive list of detailed methods and practices, but is intended to establish a responsible attitude toward preservation and conservation by librarians. The…

This document provides examples of the work of the Department of Education's Rural Education Committee during FY84, beginning with its FY84 management plan. Next, "A Rural Education Policy for the 80s," a speech presented by Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education and chair of the Rural Education Committee, Dr. Robert M.…

Electronic mail and other telecommunications processes may prove to be valuable tools for the active involvement of educators in legislative and policy development. Involving educators in regulations development could reduce implementation problems significantly. Using electronic media to disseminate policy information to educational agencies and…