As part of its 1984 school reform initiative, the Maine legislature created the Innovative Education Grant Program. It was designed to act as a catalyst for new ideas, conceived by teachers and principals, to bring new energy to classrooms and schools. From April 1986 through June 1986, 278 programs were put into practice. Descriptions of 23 of…

Guidelines for evaluating responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) for state-level educational assessment programs are presented. The guidelines articulate key choice points, options, and considerations by state (and district) testing directors as they solicit services for large-scale assessment from commercial testing companies. Focus is on…

To assist school systems in establishing computer competencies for inservice teacher training and personnel hiring guidelines, the North Carolina State Board of Education in 1985 approved the recommendations of a state task force, and identified three levels of computer competencies for teachers (K-12), i.e., competencies needed by all educators,…

In order to provide high quality training to paraprofessionals employed in state-funded Child Day Care Centers, an innovative instructional program was developed based on the need to offer training in convenient commuting locations and to recruit and train unlicensed paraprofessionals from cultural and linguistic backgrounds similar to those of…

This manual has grown out of a multiyear statewide effort to institutionalize gender equity in a variety of educational settings. It presents a step-by-step process model for creating a climate for change that can be applied to educational innovations in general as well as change for gender equity. The following model components are explored: (1)…

Summaries and edited transcriptions document the major content areas addressed by the institute, which exposed state teams to innovative continuing education concepts and methodologies to apply in state planning for continuing education through a week-long workshop and postworkshop, follow-up meetings and communication, consultation, document…

Developed in response to a ruling by the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that freshmen entering high school in 1985-86 must have one-half credit in computer literacy as a graduation requirement, this curriculum guide outlines a basal course in computer literacy for ninth grade students. The course may also be offered to…

Reviews the initiatives taken by six states in promoting precollege Science, Technology, Society (STS) education. Discusses the exemplary efforts undertaken in Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin. (ML)

This resource manual is designed to provide educators with timely information on the use of computers and related technology in schools. Section one includes a review of the new Bureau of Technology Applications' goal, functions, and major programs and activities; a description of the Model Schools Program, which has been conceptually derived from…

This compilation of abstracts represents 39 projects that were funded by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia under Adapter Grants (which involve experimentation with instructional methods or techniques) or Developer Grants (which involve the implementation of a uniquely innovative teaching method or other instructional procedure).…

Describes various projects that are part of a movement to return geography to a central place in the curriculum of America's schools. Focuses on the Geographic Education National Implementation Program (GENIP), sponsored by the National Geographic Society and other geography interest groups. (IW)

This document discusses educational assessment and accountability in current educational reform efforts and the implications for students with disabilities. A preface addresses common educational reforms, new laws promoting education reform, and how today's reforms fit with special education. The paper then describes three types of assessment:…

The SchoolTech initiative, a state-funded pilot project, was designed to empower teachers to develop innovative approaches to academic and extracurricular activities using technology. Elementary and secondary schools (n=10) in North Carolina were provided with hardware and software that had the capability of accessing Internet resources. Teachers…

At least 21 states have passed or are considering legislation to expand public school choice. The reasons for increasing students' options vary as do the forms of available choices. Some options currently in use are interdistrict choice; second-chance plans; postsecondary enrollment options; intradistrict choice; and magnet, state-supported…

Brief descriptions are provided of 39 activities funded through the Virginia Community College Institute for Instructional Excellence, including efforts to adapt and/or modify a teaching practice developed by a colleague or documented in the literature (funded by Adapter Grants), to develop and implement innovative teaching practices (funded by…