The independent sector is seen as a powerful and positive force in our national life because of its freedom from constraints, its pluralism, its environment for innovation, home for nonmajoritarian ideas, stimulus to individual initiative, opportunities for participation, role as an instrument of community, etc. (Author/MLW)

An Experience-Based Career Education (EBCE) moves from the "hot house" to the field, a number of strategies for program implementation will be tried and examined. These are recounted, as are continuing research and development efforts. Responsibility for long-term institutionalization may reside with the State Agencies of Education.…

Career education in Colorado is summarized in terms of the State's career education concept and related terms; activities of the State executive committee, State board of education, and State advisory council for career education; standards for eligibility; and current practices. (TA)

Describes the system of external institutional evaluation in Netherlands universities, distinguishing between the organizations conducting the assessment itself and the follow-up. The primary assessing organization is a private one, funded and governed by the 14 universities, and uses discipline-based assessment teams. The follow-up assessment is…

Describes the Ohio School Facilities Commission, whose mission is to provide funding, management oversight, and technical assistance to Ohio's 612 school districts for the construction and renovation of school facilities. Discusses the commission's actions at various stages of the construction process. (EV)

Describes use of accreditation facilitation projects (AFP) begun in the 1990s to provide varying levels and types of support to early childhood programs engaged in the self-study process for accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Presents insights about the early childhood program/AFP relationship related…

The Danish government has awarded more direct control over funding of basic research to a higher education agency of the ministry of education, representing a step toward increasing both the quantity and quality of graduating scientists. However, new problems have arisen from this shift in policy. (MSE)

Describes the state networks of education service agencies (ESAs) in Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin. Compares state ESA accreditation programs with regard to intent, evaluation methods, standards employed, use of performance indicators, and sanctions for poor performance. Contains 12 references. (SV)

A Peace Corps evaluator describes ways of improving utilization of evaluation results. Focus is on structural/organizational changes to facilitate knowledge and researcher use. Methods for use within and outside agencies; agency decision makers as end users; and the importance of context, as opposed to philosophy or methodology, are discussed.…

Examines important issues facing the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Provides a historical overview of the policy and programmatic and research issues that surround the Older Americans Act. Explains ombudsmen's activities in their local communities and explores social workers' roles under the auspices of long-term care ombudsman programs. (RJM)

Discusses policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse and neglect in foster care. Presents recommendations and policy examples for constructive approaches to situations of alleged abuse to minimize trauma to foster children and the foster family, while protecting the foster parents' own children. (HTH)

Examines four innovative staff training programs in Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, and Washington: four states with varying human service traditions and social needs. Maintains that those involved with the design and development of child protective services training programs should take into account the significant strides made by these four programs.…

This article argues that higher education accreditation is in disarray and that institutional leaders are not active in resolving self-regulation or accrediting problems. Central issues needing attention include public involvement in governance of the accreditation process, meaningful recognition of accreditation, uniform standards, and…

Site visits by peers of those being visited are discussed as part of an educational indicator system. The experience of the WASC in California in using self-study and site visits in school accreditation for over six years is described, and limitations of the procedure are discussed. (SLD)

The Department of Education has suffered legal defeats in Missouri and Arkansas in its campaign to prevent colleges from publicly releasing names of students arrested by campus security. Controversy involves interpretation of a 1974 privacy-protection law, the Buckley Amendment. College officials are unsure about how to deal with the issue. (MSE)