There is ample opportunity for state boards to improve outcomes for children by strengthening the early care and education workforce and thereby improving the quality of early care and education. Ensuring that ECE professionals have the knowledge, supports, and resources they need to support children's learning is one avenue to improving the…

This study provides a comparative analysis of the pre-service education system for preschool educators in China and the United States. Based on collected data and materials (literature, policy documents, and statistical data), we compare two areas of pre-service training: (1) the formal system; (2) the informal system. In the formal system, most…

Although U.S. high school students' access to Earth and space science (ESS) varies widely from state to state, nationally, ESS content is the most neglected area of science education and scientific literacy. States have been considering whether they will formally adopt, or less formally adapt, the new national science education standards, the Next…

This article reports the results of an inquiry into the dynamics of principal selection in rural school districts in two mid-American states with high numbers of rural schools. The study focuses on two questions: (1) are rural school districts experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for vacant principal's positions; and (2) what…

Of 35 secondary agriculture instructors in Nebraska (of 40 surveyed), most rated themselves above average in competence in 40 of 50 lab management competencies. Highest ratings were for operating within budget, lowest for computerization. The 10 below average competencies highlight areas to emphasize in preservice and inservice education. (SK)

A survey of 983 special education teachers in Nebraska found that almost one third taught health education to students with disabilities, however, many of these teachers did not perceive themselves as being adequately prepared or confident in their ability to address health education issues related to students with disabilities. (Author/CR)

Of 239 Nebraska school board presidents surveyed, 68 percent had experienced a critical incident with their superintendents. The most frequently cited incidents involved communications or human relations (37 percent), followed by staffing issues (15 percent), and ethics (11 percent). Over half of the incidents resulted in superintendent…

A Nebraska principal describes her experience of a two-day workshop in the assessment center at the University of Nebraska. Both the oral and written feedback helped her formulate long- and short-term goals, increased her skills in conflict resolution and stress management, and improved her classroom observation skills. (TE)

High school theology instruction receives little attention in scholarly research. This is regrettable because such a unique curricular component has the potential to add much to the Catholicity of the school and to the religious development of faculty and students. To advance the discussion and application of the ideas presented in this focus…