This report analyzes data from a survey of the 50 states and the District of Columbia designed to study changes in organizational structure within state education agencies (SEAs) and the impact of those changes on management and leadership in special education. completed forms were received from 48 SEAs or a 94 percent return rate. The report…

The Westchester Initiative for Homeless Children is an effort of the Plan for Social Excellence, Inc., to improve education. This report updates a 1993 report that studied the limited successes and ongoing challenges of educating homeless children in Westchester County (New York). This update examines changes in educational policy since the first…

A study investigated characteristics of retirees and types of voluntary groups they joined after retirement. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and completed questionnaires of 206 Australians over age 50. Five categories of voluntary organizations were studied: intellectually challenging, sporting/exercise, social, helping others,…

CityMatCH is a national organization of urban maternal and child health programs and leaders. In 1995, CityMatCH sponsored a conference at which urban maternal and child health leaders from city and county health departments across the country came together for professional development and networking. This report of highlights from the conference…

A study designed to consider the feasibility of creating a State Office of Literacy in Hawaii found no consensus among those interviewed as to whether such an office should be established or what its duties should be. Consequently, the creation of a permanent Governor's Commission on Literacy was recommended instead. Housed within the Office of…

Implementation is the challenge facing any attempts to reform the U.S. welfare service system. Without consideration of an implementation strategy, a reform plan will be destined to fail. Because many planners of welfare reform may be unfamiliar with program initiation, planners need a guide to assist implementation. This report provides planners…

This packet of information items presents a variety of resources for the effective transition of young children with disabilities from one program or service to another. Typical items include: challenges and truths of transition; six key points of transition; regulations from relevant federal laws; a flowchart of interagency transition planning; a…

This report examines state-by-state child support data to determine the impact of child support legislation over the last decade. In the text portion, the report compares data provided by the states in fiscal years 1983 and 1992. It finds that while states have made some improvements over the decade, performance in many critical areas has remained…

In 1992, the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges adopted this report on the state's accreditation, and directed the Executive Committee to work with the Accreditation Committee in order to implement its recommendations to the greatest extent possible. Suggestions concerning the composition and effectiveness of visiting teams are…

Federal regulations have set forth specific performance standards for the provision of services for children with disabilities in Head Start programs. These regulations provide state and local education agencies and Head Start grantees with unique opportunities to collaborate to provide comprehensive, family-centered, and appropriate services to…

These hearing transcripts present testimony concerning the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Much of the testimony was from members of congress, educators, and representatives of education organizations concerning the efficacy of specific programs and activities funded by the Act, particularly those items that they…

This paper reports on a practicum designed to teach foster-care caseworkers how to improve the specificity and clarity of item definition on Individual Service Plans (ISPs) for children in foster care. Most agencies require that within 30 days of accepting a child for foster care, agency caseworkers must complete an ISP which establishes goals for…

Community-based interagency collaboration may allow agencies to more effectively involve residents and create a preventive, proactive social-service delivery system. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated the role of principals in community-based interagency collaboration (CBIC) in a large midwestern city. The project was…

This analysis of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act focuses on Minnesota's participation in Part H, which creates a discretionary program to assist states in planning, implementing, and developing a statewide system of comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency programs for young (birth to age 3) children and their…

This report presents the results of a management study of audio playback equipment operations conducted by the National Library Service, Library of Congress, its associated network of state and local machine lending agencies (MLA), and other parties that play a role in current operations. The objectives were to document current operations,…