Results of school district reorganization may be viewed in a number of ways. Frequently progress is measured in terms of the number of local districts eliminated by incorporating their territory in larger units. Results may likewise be measured by increases in the number of new districts having certain characteristics of size or other features…

This report focuses on productivity improvements in instructional programs at Illinois' public universities by providing an assessment of statewide instructional capacity. The report identifies 22 disciplines in which reduction, consolidation, or elimination of programs should be considered. It notes that when programs are offered by several…

Illinois' General Assembly appointed a Commission to Study Non-Public Higher Education in Illinois and directed it to consider the role and needs of private colleges and universities and recommend ways in which the state should aid these institutions. The Commission invited the presidents of all private institutions in Illinois to voice their…

In-depth interviews with 46 administrators of vocational programs in Illinois sought information on factors affecting locally directed evaluation (LDE): organization of human resources, institutional characteristics, existing resource materials, use of results, and state policy. Specific changes in LDE materials were made as a result of the…

This paper describes a survey, of 51 rural schools in Illinois, that was conducted to gather information on English and language arts teaching in rural areas. Following an introduction to the rationale and methodology of the survey, the paper discusses the results of the survey in the following areas: (1) the rural community, including community…

THIS BRIEF REPORT ON THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE ACT STATES THE OBJECTIVES, PHILOSOPHY, AND MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR JUNIOR COLLEGES, GIVES EXCERPTS FROM THE ACT ITSELF, DEFINES CLASS I AND II DISTRICTS, AND DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF THE DISTRICT JUNIOR COLLEGE BOARD. THE ACT ENCOURAGES COMPREHENSIVENESS IN EACH DISTRICT, TO BE ACHIEVED BY…

A research project investigated the dissemination practices of nine State education agencies (SEA) in order to identify useful techniques which could be adopted by other groups seeking to implement change. Interviewers conducted site visits in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania; local…

This report profiles the state departments of education (SEAs) in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, and North Dakota. These SEAs reported in 1996 that they had changed from a departmental structure (e.g., separate units for special education), into cross-cutting teams in the previous five years. Findings indicate that since…

By contrast with other education and school service programs, the school lunch is new. Like any other new program, time is required to work out in detail its proper placement in the school organization, its exact functions in relation to the total school program, and the characteristics which tend to make it a part of the educational program, yet…

Discusses the following topics concerning Illinois higher education: the political role of state universities; the role of coordinating boards; political resources; and the relationship of political leaders to higher education. (Author/PG)

At first glance, academic assessment is simply another request for more paper. But it goes well beyond the design of a plan or blueprint. Instead, assessment involves the much more difficult task of creating a new culture. Borrowing from both the experience of the Department of Political Science at Northeastern Illinois University and from the…

This paper examined state and community programs for preschool-aged children in Illinois during a 1-year period in order to identify, describe, and publicize effective practices in early childhood education. Exemplars, rather than content-specific standards, were used for selection criteria. A qualitative, connoisseurship model of evaluation was…

This directory lists the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of members of higher education organizations in the state of Illinois. Included for the Illinois Board of Higher Education is an organization chart, list of board and staff members, and a list of members of the Illinois Century Network. Board members and administrative officers are…

PROMINENT HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CHAIRMEN AND CONSULTANTS AT TWO CONFERENCES AGREED UPON A STATEMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE ENGLISH CHAIRMAN WHICH STRESSED THE CHAIRMAN AS A SUBJECT SPECIALIST WITHIN THE SCHOOL WHO IS ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITY FOR COORDINATING INSTRUCTION. FOURTEEN PAPERS WERE PREPARED FOR THE FIRST 3-DAY CONFERENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF…

This Annual Narrative Report by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Illinois, on foreign language programs in public schools describes activities and objectives which characterize the year's work. The report emphasizes the growing importance of individualized instruction and cultural education. Major sections discuss: (1)…