This study examined the coverage of sexual orientation topics within 77 public university secondary teacher preparation programs across seven US states, and represented programs preparing 8,300-11,500 teachers annually. Findings indicated that 40% of programs did not address sexual orientation as a diversity topic. Further, even programs that did…

Increasingly, competency tests are being developed and used by state departments of education for teacher certification. Professional educators should participate in the development and revision of the content of these examinations. A description of the development of Georgia's competency tests is given. (CJB)

Youth with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system with recent estimates suggesting that at least 35% of youth in the juvenile justice system are eligible for special education services (Quinn, Rutherford, Leone, Osher & Poirer, 2005). Specific learning disability, emotional disturbance and mental…

The approach of Georgia's career education program is one in which the state leadership serves first as a catalyst in stimulating local educators to re-examine the educational needs of their students, and second, as a source of assistance to local educators as they think through, within the context of their local environments, the changes they…

I examine the state policy context of implementing an initiative that transforms the training and role of today's school counselors. This is essentially a story of political process. Like the implementation of many initiatives, the Transforming School Counselor Initiative (TSCI) is a process of gaining support and then institutionalizing a…

Describes study that examined both currently operational and planned programs where academic libraries are involved in cooperative programs either financed or encouraged by state coordinating agencies of higher education. Limitations of the study are discussed, and a questionnaire and interview questions are appended. (eight references)…

This document presents edited interviews with four former superintendents of instruction--Ewald Nyquist of New York, Jack Nix of Georgia, Dolores Colburg of Montana, and John Pittenger of Pennsylvania. Although the states in which these persons held their positions are quite different, there are a number of commonalities in the problems they…

This proposal for the use of various media materials available in school classrooms and media centers provides guidelines for utilizing the materials throughout the school. A second part of the document deals with the selection of instructional materials at the state and local levels. Included is a copy of a letter to superintendents on revised…

A study sought to clarify the meaning and use of "academic freedom" in public higher education through a survey of administrators, department heads, and college faculty in Georgia public institutions of higher education. It is felt that clarification of the term should reduce potential for conflict in faculty and institutional rights and…

The statewide teaching performance assessment instruments being used in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida were examined. Forty-one reliability and validity studies regarding the instruments in use in each state were collected from state departments and universities. Georgia uses the Georgia Teacher Performance Assessment Instrument. North…

This report focuses on the fiscal year 1987 activities of the Education Information Center (EIC), a service operated by the Georgia Department of Education. Designed for use by top public school administrators and consultants, the purpose of the EIC was to help them save time and do a more effective job by expanding their knowledge about…

The statewide implementation of the Georgia State Board of Education (GSBE) policy for high school graduation requirements was begun in September, 1980. It specifically stated that the GSBE would be responsible for assessing the basic skills, or learner skills, of students enrolled in public schools. It further stated that each local school system…

In compliance with a Georgia legislative directive to search for efficient and economical methods of providing quality education for children in Georgia, a study of the organization of existing school systems was conducted. The purposes of the study were to develop criteria (1) for the evaluation of elementary and secondary schools and (2) for…

Educators from five states describe how state department initiatives and state legislation have affected staff development, noting how staff developers have influenced and responded to those efforts. (Author/SM)

The improvement of the rural schools of the United States is the most important school problem. The most important factor in their improvement must be better educated and better trained teachers. The education and training of teachers should always have some special reference to the work of the schools in which they are to teach. Therefore any…