The person-centered individualized education program (IEP) transition planning has emerged as a primary indicator of quality services, and as a predictor for successful post-school outcomes for transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, these person-centered transition practices are not uniformly implemented across the…

In the Northwest Independent School District (ISD) located in north Texas, collaboration is "not" optional; it is expected from all teachers. The driving force behind this effort is the district's vision: "the best and most sought-after school district where every student is future ready: Ready for college, Ready for the global…

Researchers have found that middle school students undergo developmental changes that require unique educational structures and support. As a result, experts have suggested a number of specific strategies for organizing middle schools in order to best meet students' needs. This Information Capsule summarizes middle school redesign initiatives that…

This 19th annual edition of "Quality Counts" takes a broad look at the issues and forces shaping the discussion around early-childhood education. It examines how new academic demands and the push for accountability are changing the nature of early-childhood education for school administrators, teachers, and children alike. Reporters…

The mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to ensure all students have access to world-class education and quality online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success. "National Standards for Quality Online Courses" is designed to provide states, districts, online programs, and…

This publication lists the steps to be taken in the Continuous Improvement Instructional Planning Process of the Texas Education Agency. The steps in this process are: (1) definition of the goals and standards for student performance; (2) identification of the learning needs of the students; (3) development of performance objectives based on…

This counselor's resource guide is intended to provide a vast listing of career guidance-related resources that are commonly requested by counselors. The listing for each resource includes complete publication data, a source address, price information, and a resource description that has been taken directly from catalogs or other promotional…

Classroom management consists of a wide array of proactive, well-established, and consistent techniques and practices. For teachers to relate content effectively, classrooms must be well managed. Curriculum preparation and behavior management have a close relationship. Even though educator preparation programs typically provide instruction in…

Accountability and assessment are critical components to the success of schools today. As leaders of school districts, superintendents in Texas and across the nation are faced daily with meeting this challenge. While doing so, they must remember that their priority commitment is not to testing programs, but to helping children achieve.…

This report of the Committee on Student Learning to the 73rd Texas Legislature addresses committee structure and membership, the charges to the committee as established in House Bill 2885, and the committee's key actions during its first year. The committee focused on receiving research and discussing issues related to outcomes-driven education,…

The Texas "Families First" project was started to accomplish the following: (1) strengthen the capacity of local family literacy projects to design, support, and administer high quality programs by leveraging resources from several agencies in the state; and (2) finalize the indicators of program quality (IPQs) in early childhood…

This handbook for tech prep practitioners in Texas consists of loose-leaf documents from the performance assessment areas currently available to tech prep practitioners. The first part of the handbook consists of 10 sample assessment documents that were selected from over 900 performance assessment based on a quantitative rating system. The…

This guide was created to provide Texas adult educators with a state-of-the-art resource for practical information about adult education materials and methods for their own growth and that of their students. The guide is organized in four parts. Part I provides preparatory information on the following topics: related resources; characteristics of…

This manual was designed to be a comprehensive resource for a wide variety of persons interested in vocational assessment, including teachers, administrators, and counselors. It provides a resource that educators can use in locating guidelines at specific points in designing or implementing vocational assessment programs for handicapped students.…

The Computer-Assisted Job Skill Evaluation (CAJSE) project was conducted to develop an evaluation software instrument that could be used in career and technical education programs throughout Texas to provide immediate performance evaluations in vocational-technical and career education. Ten instructors selected from vocational-technical education…