The evaluator's role in planning/implementing an evaluation of a new program to train school administrators in performance appraisal skills is described. This case study of the evaluators' broadening roles uses E. Chelimsky's continuum (1987) to analyze political processes and decision making involved in the evaluation of a state-funded program.…

Discusses ways to prevent child abuse and neglect through parent education and home visiting programs for at-risk families that stress early intervention and preventive measures. Describes the Healthy Start program developed in Hawaii as a model for other states to follow. (MDM)

Describes the initial results of a survey sent to colleges and universities that was conducted to better understand the range and scope of collaborative computer networking activities between elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions. Examples of statewide networks as well as local and regional consortia are described. (LRW)

State and local policies for disseminating information to parents about statewide educational assessments were studied in a survey of 41 state program directors. Two studies in Michigan examined state policies in 201 districts and the degree to which 105 parents understood test results. Implications for information dissemination are discussed.…

A discussion of Florida's college tuition prepayment program describes the plan and its options and examines its marketing implications as a preneed service. It is concluded that the program makes saving for college easy, economical, and completely safe but requires rethinking of conventional marketing strategies and mix. (MSE)

A statewide telecommunications network in New Mexico links research and educational institutions, government agencies, businesses, and public interest groups. Development of the system began a decade ago, primarily to promote economic development. New information services are added monthly, and use is expanding rapidly. Some other states have…

This article highlights the complexity of and critical need for service coordination for medically fragile infants and their families through an in-depth case study of a child and his family who "slipped through the cracks" of the system. The retrospective analysis describes problems and suggests alternative strategies for more effective…

Includes four articles that provide the following: (1) a list of state associations connected with school library media programs with their national affiliations; (2) a review of the activities of 13 state associations; (3) a review of state agency activities in 6 states; (4) a directory of state agencies that consult with school library media…

This article promotes the use of contextual constructionism in evaluation research. The call for truth in sentencing in Tennessee (and across the country) is used to illustrate the conflict among stakeholders that arises from program evaluation and to show how their multiple realities make a contextual constructionist approach pertinent. (SLD)

The article describes Louisiana's approach to implementing Individualized Family Service Plans, including four model formats developed by early intervention service providers and families of young children with disabilities. Formats differ in the way the required elements are expressed, allowing application to the unique characteristics of…

This article discusses educational services and programs provided by the New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped. The school provides free appropriate education for children with visual impairments within an array of service models and environments, protects the rights of students with handicaps and their parents, and makes technical aids,…

A survey of 69 teachers and 13 principals in a Missouri school district focused on state linkage of 2 reform programs, a teacher career ladder and teacher performance evaluations. Teachers tolerated the evaluations, criticized the career ladder, and saw the linkage as contradicting both programs' intentions. Principals' attitudes were mixed. (MDM)

Discusses the role of libraries and productivity, one of the three main themes that will be addressed at the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services. Statewide coordinated efforts to serve business and government clientele are emphasized, and statewide databases in Colorado, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania are described.…

Describes a study that designed and tested an interlibrary loan (ILL) measurement tool to be used by all types and sizes of libraries in Illinois. Topics discussed include data collection processes, use of the information for resource sharing, and a continuing education program to help librarians use the ILL forms. Sample forms are appended.…

A major challenge facing state policymakers who are demanding a high level of accountability in education is to design an accountability mechanism to track educational reform. The structure and uses of eight exemplary approaches to accountability are examined, resulting in a set of design characteristics for state accountability mechanisms. (TJH)