Proposes social structural view of poverty rates as a function of local opportunity instead of individual-level focus on who is poor. Defines poverty rates as a function of industrial structure and relative power of labor in a locality. Confirms theoretical model with data from 46 South Carolina counties. (LFL)

Summarizes political, technical, attitudinal, and educational problems affecting delivery of special education services in the largely rural developing nation of Malaysia. Evaluates the possible use of a community-based model of rehabilitation that would rely heavily on parental involvement and volunteers and make the best use of the country's few…

Description of VALNet (Valley Library Consortium), a consortium of public, academic, and school libraries in Idaho, highlights proposed online public access union catalog which would include nonbibliographic and referral files and circulation and serials control modules. The political climate, marketing, needs assessment, support and consultation,…

Two Toronto community English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs used oral interview tests to place adults in appropriate programs. Instruments used included: Foreign Service Oral Interview; Ilyin Oral Interview; object-oriented testing; group testing; performance in authentic situations; Ontario Test of English as a Second Language; and George…

A large and growing part of American postsecondary education, proprietary schools, offer lessons for traditional institutions in attracting new students in a career-oriented market. Effective marketing is important since proprietary schools compete not only with each other, but also with public community colleges. Specific schools and agencies are…

Identifies postsecondary agencies and service providers that may be effective in bridging secondary programs and employment. Five major educational opportunities are discussed: vocational rehabilitative services, sheltered rehabilitation centers, community colleges, technical schools, and private business and industry. Also considered are…

Presents a literature review of ERIC documents dealing with the transfer function of community colleges, college efforts to improve transfer rates, programs to assist women and minorities, and student financial aid issues. (AYC)

Discusses the significance of the shift in federal educational policies marked by the adoption of the block grant approach to federal aid in Chapter 2 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. Reviews several general findings of case studies of the first year of Chapter 2 grant implementation. (PGD)

Describes a study investigating how adult students attending the two-year University of Wisconsin Centers compared to younger students in terms of their characteristics, goals, academic performance, where they went to college or the barriers to going on, educational plans, and evaluation of the Centers. (AYC)

Educational frameworks to accommodate rural America are designed around the concept of smallness and incorporate basic skill development through programed instruction, individual projects, use of volunteers, cross-age tutoring, and computer study. Other areas of focus include community involvement, practical skills, familiarization with the…

Suggests school boards separate from day-to-day administrative operations, concentrate on futuristic five-year plans, and work with a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in subgroups to study all areas of responsibility in order to respond to rising median population age and emerging high-tech society. Would provide optimum accountability and…

In 1981 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided funds to 20 teaching hospitals to support health services to high-risk adolescents (young people living in communities with high rates of pregnancy, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, accidents, homicide, suicide, and depression). The experiences of these institutions are described. (Author/MLW)

Describes Chinese government measures taken to popularize education (1949-1977), including literacy campaigns, new types of popular rural schools, the "Youth to the Countryside" program, and aims and practices of the Cultural Revolution. (MH)

This article explains how the French nursery school, established by the Ministry of Education, provides the basis for the educational system as well as a social service for child welfare. (MS)

Using data from Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, this issue of "Data Notes" looks at the relationship between institutional size differences at Achieving the Dream colleges. Nearly half of Achieving the Dream colleges are classified as small, but these colleges account for only 11 percent of students in the fall 2002 cohort. Only 29…