Describes a survey of Illinois school library collections in three areas of science. The survey goals were to quantify the need for increased funding; offer a collection assessment tool; determine whether schools had resources needed to support state science education goals. (five references.) (KRN)

Arguments for school vouchers are beginning to have a cumulative effect with gains in a number of states. The political power that holds Washington to the public school orthodoxy is weakening before state movements toward public school choice and charter schools. (SLD)

Heightened demand for testing is seen as a function of public skepticism regarding the quality of public education. Discusses developments and trends in the following areas: (1) minimum competency testing versus higher order skills testing; (2) kindergarten and first grade readiness testing; (3) portfolio-based assessment; and (4) teacher…

Traces strategies for preventing high school dropouts from the traditional reliance on remediation or incentives to recent negative sanctions (e.g., West Virginia's "no school, no drive" law). The General Educational Development Program serves those who return voluntarily to school after having realized the importance of education. (JB)

A survey of respondents and nonrespondents to the Vocational Education Data System's follow-up survey of Massachusetts community college graduates was designed to measure response bias. The survey investigated employment patterns, wages, and degree of job relatedness. Results suggest original data was biased, if at all, toward underestimation, not…

Development of state leadership in implementing the quality mandate of Chapter 1 supplementary education programs is traced up to the 1988 Hawkins Stafford Act, which added procedural and accountability requirements. Challenges that states now face in the program improvement processes are described. (SLD)

Describes the Connecticut Library Network, which was created through state legislation to expand the state library's existing database; to link all school, public, and academic libraries and municipal government offices; and to make the state library's information resources widely accessible. Public library Internet access, National Information…

Explains the status of information technology deployment in Kentucky. Topics include Kentucky Information Resource Management Commission, created by the state government; the Kentucky information highway, including education, health care, economic development, geographic information systems, and science and technology; and library-specific…

This overview of the use of technology in Missouri libraries describes the statewide bibliographic union database; elementary and secondary school projects using the Internet; full-text magazine database; remote electronic access; state depository program for digitizing resources; networks; electronic publishing; interlibrary loan; public and…

Reviews statewide multitype library automation and connectivity initiatives in New Hampshire. Topics include an information system incorporating a union catalog, interlibrary loan, electronic mail, CD-ROM databases, and Internet access; state government information on the World Wide Web through the state library; OCLC FirstSearch access; and a…

Discusses multitype library cooperation in South Dakota, including a statewide automated network that supports library operations and contains periodical indexes; state library activities that include providing service to rural libraries via the Internet as well as library staff training; and school library projects. (LRW)

Maintains that a more thorough understanding of the complex relationship between state government and local schools would greatly benefit arts educators. Presents an examination of the structure of this relationship in Massachusetts as a model. Examines government funding, staffing, delegation of powers, and various shared responsibilities. (MJP)

A study investigated the views of 81 teachers, administrators, and assessment personnel about issues stemming from the participation of students with disabilities in large-scale assessments. Findings indicate local personnel are giving increasingly careful consideration to appropriateness of curriculum choices, assessment options that match…

For the 1993-94 school year, the Office of Educational Research (OER) of the New York City Public Schools was asked to conduct evaluations of the 12 magnet schools funded under the New York State Magnet School Initiative. The state initiative was planned to promote the development of magnet schools that promote multicultural educational…

This study examined the following research hypotheses for fifth graders taking the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) tests in the El Paso (Texas) Independent School District in 1990-91: (1) ethnicity is positively predictive of TAAS status; (2) socioeconomic status (SES) is positively predictive of TAAS status; (3) gender is positively…