Noting that the latest messages communicated to the public about the learning problems of American children emphasize children's lack of social maturity and premature school entry, this book examines the many complex issues surrounding school readiness and entry. The 15 chapters are divided into 4 sections. The first section includes an…

This paper presents a set of general observations about state-sponsored school improvement initiatives with data from several sources. One major source is the Research for Better Schools, Inc., Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), implementation study, "Facing the Challenge: Selected Programs and Practices of the Urban Initiative's Operation School…

Integrating a library skills curriculum requires that school library media programs be able to schedule instruction flexibly. Flexible scheduling describes a program in which the learning experiences of students are based on need rather than on routine weekly visits to the library media center for class instruction. To determine the factors that…

This evaluation of the State Incentive Grant (SIG) training program in 1993-94 compared five schools in the city of New York with relatively high involvement in SIG training and good planning with five schools reported to have low SIG involvement and poor planning. The evaluation also included a sampling of workshops at the District 75 annual…

Reports on a forum sponsored by the California State Department of Education in cooperation with the California School Boards Association and the Far West Laboratory for Education Research and Development, which was held to identify the most critical needs for educational technology in the state and to discuss possible strategies for meeting these…

This document is a comprehensive guide to planning and implementing a multicultural kindergarten curriculum in New York City's (New York) public schools via planned, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. The guide contains the following 15 sections: (1) "Introduction," which outlines the program and its philosophy; (2)…

This handbook presents a process for the assessment of college curricula and student learning in general education and liberal learning. The key concepts of the Coursework Cluster Analysis Model (CCAM) are described and explained. Some of the general guidelines on interpreting the results of CCAM analyses are presented as well as key decisions…

Innovative work being done in the area of educational assessment is explored, focusing on the experiences of the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The following projects currently being carried out by the CCSSO are described: (1) the Secondary Academic Standards and…

The development of a needs instrument designed to assess the continuing education needs of school administrators is described. The instrument was constructed to assess the administrators' continuing needs in: (1) principalship; (2) the school as a system; (3) problem solving; (4) staff development; (5) collaborative long-range planning; (6)…

This book presents a conceptual approach to multicultural education, with practical suggestions for achieving education that is multicultural throughout every facet of its structure and process. A step-by-step method is offered for developing a multicultural curriculum, and various teaching strategies and techniques applicable to classroom…

This speech examines what areas of responsibilities and services are provided by TRIO programs and their role in the college accrediting process. Areas of accrediting found to be supported and fostered by TRIO programs are highlighted and include the following: (1) the development of mission statements, goals, and objectives appropriate to the…

This study analyzed the employment situation of 106 Apache youth, of whom 52 had been special education students. All students had exited high school between 1987 and 1992. Findings indicate that 65 percent of the regular education students and 73 percent of special education students were unemployed, that 50 percent of working special education…

In July 1992, the Commission on New Directions for Michigan Community Colleges (CNDMCC) was established to identify key issues most likely to effect the 29 Michigan community colleges and develop recommendations for handling those issues. This report provides background information on the CNDMCC and discusses the commission's recommendations. The…

This paper explores the concept of benchmarking in institutional research, a comparative analysis methodology designed to help colleges and universities increase their educational quality and delivery systems. The primary purpose of benchmarking is to compare an institution to its competitors in order to improve the product (in this case…

This guide is intended to provide assistance to educators interested in developing two-way interactive television networks, addressing the educational and cost issues of this technology. Interactive television (I-TV) offers smaller or rural schools the opportunity to offer a comprehensive program within budgetary restraints. I-TV refers to the…