This report adds a significant perspective to the current wave of efforts aimed at diversifying the teacher workforce, specifically to address the mismatch between Latinx students and Latinx teachers. The Latinx population is the largest ethnic group in America's public schools, currently making up a quarter of the student population, and expected…

This guide addresses the strengthening of nonstructural elements of a school building to resist earthquake-induced damaged and improve school building safety in Washington State regions with notable earthquake activity. Nonstructural elements include the decorative details and those functional building parts and contents which support the…

Results of two value engineering studies have shown that a review early in the design process can help save costs in school construction, maintenance, operation, and replacement. The value engineering concepts and technical manual are being presented throughout the state of Washington. (MLF)

This guide, which can be used as a school self-inspection tool, is designed to help Washington's K-12 public schools prevent and reduce injuries and illnesses by focusing on good health and safety practices. The guide also focuses on practices that can be undertaken during the design, construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, or inspection…

Annually, ACT provides a snapshot of the college and career readiness of ACT-tested high school graduates. This report is offered as a service to inform policymakers and practitioners about selected indicators of effectiveness and how that translates into readiness. It is designed to stimulate discussion, inquiry, and action. This report is…

This guide for a vocational guidance system is intended for local school districts in Washington state. It begins with a brief statement of vocational guidance philosophy followed by a listing of goals and goal-related outcomes for students in K-12. Guidelines for the management team are outlined, and the role of the school staff member in an…

This reference guide is designed to give educators and other interested persons a better understanding of the information contained in the score reports from the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, the key measuring stick of the state's school improvement strategy. To do this, the guide is organized around the four basic form types used in…

This handbook has been developed to assist school districts in the adoption of textbooks. The criteria for establishing a textbook selection process are included, as well as selection criteria for specific subject areas. Procedural steps are initially outlined for preliminary activities, book examination procedure, and implementation, and then a…

In 1985, Washington State Legislature passed a law mandating that each Washington school conduct a self-study by 1990-91 and every seven years thereafter. The intent is to enhance education through school improvement. This manual illustrates a model self-study process and provides a "tool kit" of implementation aids. The first section…

Presents a partial list of the 132 Oregon and Washington plants which have been proposed for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Suggestions for student/citizen involvement in preserving these species and a description of a videotape about rare/endangered species of the Willamette Valley (Oregon) are included. (DH)

Describes and lists sources of ideas for classroom activities in geology. Activities focus on Mount St. Helen's, maps as models, volcanos, and igneous processes. (JM)

This booklet, based on school and community experiences in the state of Washington, was written to provide practical strategies to enable teachers and administrators to enrich instruction through service and service learning. Filled with vignettes and examples of service learning that is taking place in Washington schools, the booklet includes…

This manual offers a multicultural basic skills curriculum for Grades K-12 in Washington State schools, and provides student learning goals. A brief introduction describes the curriculum model and defines multicultural education as a perspective and process which can be integrated with any of the basic skill content areas. The remainder of the…

This handbook presents information for the use of Washington State school districts and schools in the development of physical education programs that conform with Federal and State regulations regarding sex equity. It consists of five major sections which provide, respectively: (1) State legislation pertaining to education, physical education,…

Educational Service Agencies (ESA's) are public education agencies that provide specialized programs and services to a group of school districts in a specified geographical region and to the state department of education. Most states have encouraged the development of ESA's that have either evolved out of county districts or have been created to…