Examined the history of adoption practices for children of color at the Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon. During the period studied (1944-77), 466 children of color were placed with adoptive parents of the same or different race. The agency pioneered new practices, yet also reflected broader social factors regarding adoption and attitudes…

Interviews with 37 individuals in Nicaragua were the basis of this review of the audiology field in that nation. The review covers the prevalence and etiology of hearing impairment, training for audiologists, government services for individuals with hearing impairment, private agencies concerned with hearing impairment, and fitting and use of…

Describes the Health Information Project, a plan created by the Maryland State Department of Education that allows residents to obtain health information from public libraries. Examples of patron situations involving health questions illustrate the plan's main elements: collection development, staff training, networking with community agencies,…

This article addresses implementation of the British Code of Practice, which provides guidelines for the identification, assessment, and service provision of children with special educational needs. It covers the school-based stages of assessment, statutory assessment, the annual review, the role of child health and social services, and parents as…

The specification and estimation of school effects, the variability of effects across schools, and the proportion of variation in student outcomes attributable to differences in school context and practice are considered. A statistical model is presented that defines school effects for parents choosing a school and for agencies evaluating school…

This article proposes that combining home visits with service coordination could be an effective method of determining what services are needed by families of young children with disabilities and at the same time providing intervention in the home setting. Competencies needed for this dual position of service coordinator and home visitor are…

Describes eight components of planning initiatives for improving the quality and delivery of early childhood education: (1) creating linkages; (2) using data in planning; (3) improving program quality; (4) developing a coordinated professional development system; (5) financing the system; (6) creating new systems of governance; (7) building public…

The introductory chapter of this theme issue considers alternative policies for the finance, control, and delivery of basic education in developing countries. Agency of delivery, source of funding, and prevalence of subsidies are emphasized. Seven subsequent chapters present reactions to proposed policies and strategies, with international…

The transformation of a large, private, church-affiliated provider of residential services for individuals with mental retardation from an institutionally based to a community-based service system is described. Factors influencing the decision to close the 200-person residential facility, guidelines followed during the transition, and evidence of…

This article proposes that higher education's ways of classifying institutions may serve as a hindrance to educational change and innovation, by defining institutions and their purposes too strictly. Accreditation agencies are seen as adversaries of change and experimentation in higher education. Greater flexibility and diversity are recommended.…

Diagnostic and treatment histories of 85 children and adolescents served in 2 exemplary school-based day-treatment programs in California were analyzed. Findings suggest a significant lag time between first symptoms, referral for services, and treatment; marked instability of psychiatric diagnoses over time; and lack of concordance between…

Three strategies the federal Department of Education might pursue in realizing the promise of technology in higher education are assessed: (1) maintenance of the status quo, with gradual incorporation of technology; (2) an aggressive, activist federal role in formulating new teaching and delivery systems; and (3) federal deregulation and…

Discusses changes in leaving care in England and Wales, based on a survey of young people leaving the care of social service departments that examined diversity of care leavers; care careers; age at independence; living out of care; and after-care support. Summarizes key policy and practice issues, and outlines new directions for practice and…

Reviews national efforts to define urban policies and programs from 1960 through 1994, and suggests reasons for the failure of most in meeting the expectations of their advocates or the American people. It identifies principles and policies that should guide future urban policy makers in dealing with the difficult problems facing the modern city.…

Whole-faculty study groups show promise as a vehicle for integrating initiatives and focusing school improvement efforts on increased student learning. The paper describes the San Diego Unified (City) School District's experiences in developing and implementing successful whole-faculty study groups. The groups increased collegiality and improved…