Three case studies of interorganizational arrangements between public school districts and a college/university are used to illustrate how a state higher education agency (the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education) promoted voluntary, lateral relationships to strengthen local school educational programs. A within-case analysis…

Curriculum touches all members of a school's community. It is not surprising that something of great importance is influenced by many groups. At this crutial time, school boards should define their role in curriculum and encourage positive change based on sound decisions regarding what knowledge, skills, competencies, attitudes, and values…

This report was commissioned by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) to provide USOE with information about the potential applications of distance learning technology in schools. The study includes: (1) a statewide assessment of instructional, staff development, and administrative needs which may be met by distance learning technology; and…

A model is presented for developing a comprehensive building plan to improve student performance. The goal-planning process provides a 3- to 5-year written plan identifying major school goals, objectives, activities, resources, evaluation criteria, and monitoring methods. The process ensures ownership of the plan by the teachers and principal of…

This chapter addresses developments concerning faculty tenure, examines institutional responses to new pressures and the litigation by faculty over those reponses, and explores faculty and administration rights and responsibilities. Academic administrators have realized that the reappointment, tenure, and promotion processes are an opportunity to…

The Mississippi State Department of Education Dissemination Program undertook a five-year plan from 1980-1985 to develop a coordinated, comprehensive statewide dissemination system for public school improvement throughout the state. The major objectives of the project were to develop the following: (1) a system for collecting, storing, retrieving,…

This paper attempts to match identified large-scale social trends (derived from the popular book "Megatrends" by John Naisbitt) to possible state education agency (SEA) policy positions. The first part of the analysis explores possible implications of these "megatrends" for SEA policy development. The trends discussed show…

This annual report on the comprehensive 5-year program for the enhancement of library services in New York State (1) provides a benchmark for the continuing planning, development, and evaluation of state library services; (2) summarizes the objectives, policies, and programs undertaken for the improvement of those services; (3) serves as a guide…

Focusing on the existing organization of the collection development activities at the University of Wyoming Library, this task force report examines the staffing and functions of the Collection Development and Acquisitions Departments, the Collection Development Committee, the subject specialist/college academic department liaison program,…

Discusses curriculum changes needed in elementary and secondary schools in response to broader social change involved in the information revolution. Highlights include the role of federal, state, and local agencies, private industry initiatives, the role of technology, and the importance of problem solving skills. Twenty-five references are…

This audit report addresses whether New York school districts have established comprehensive school safety plans and completed necessary violence-prevention and response steps, and whether the New York State of Board of Education and State Education Department provided sufficient monitoring over school districts' efforts to keep schools safe from…

This study examines activities of the South Carolina Department of Education directed toward implementation of Public Law 99-457 (the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments 1986) which called for special education for preschool children with disabilities. The study specifically documents the number of children served, number of children…

This report presents the Prichard Committee recommendations on professional development of Kentucky teachers. They are based on the results of a steering committee of Kentucky educators and are being implemented in a Pew Charitable Trusts project. The overall finding was that for school reform to succeed in Kentucky, greatly enhanced professional…

This document contains the executive summary and the detailed report which provide an independent evaluation of Kentucky's new system for assessing student performance, the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS). The summary gauges progress to date, highlights some strengths to be built on and problems to be solved, and provides…

This report on gifted education is based on surveys returned by central education agencies in 47 states and Guam. The report contains informational charts which provide a broad overview of state level services for gifted students. An analysis of the data follows every chart. Included are data on: state mandates and regulations on gifted education;…