The position paper of the Grand Island, Nebraska, schools supports the assumption that when a pupil's handicap affects his ability to learn and perform, appropriate special education should include guidelines for special grading. The paper identifies grading obstacles such as differing perceptions of various participants in the grading process.…

Educational policy issues must be seen as statements of intention, with the practice issues of accountability kept separate. Accountability should not be juxtaposed to school improvement. Instead, accountability should be defined broadly as doing the things that improve practice so that the intended results can be achieved. If there is no balance…

Describes the Nebraska Literacy Project, a 5-week workshop for K-12 teachers modeled after the Nebraska Writing Project. Shows how teachers can encourage students to look closely at their own literacy histories and their daily practices as readers and writers. Presents the literacy histories as recorded by some participants. (HB)

Conversations with state department representatives in four Midwestern states produced a discussion of trends and commentary on the status of state definitions of behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance, as well as identification practices and procedures. Among concerns expressed are the need to be more systematic in gathering behavioral data.…

Prospects for reforming assessment are dim. Persistence of the "education crisis" is chiefly attributable to the testing industry's profit margins and its distrust of teachers--a ploy to preserve the educational power structure. Schools should be accountable to local communities, not corporate entities, as a Nebraska initiative shows.…

Several problems exist with the rural knowledge base as it is traditionally conceived: (1) there is no useful rural definition with the diverse rural reality; (2) rural is undervalued as reflected in teacher education and training and in the stereotyping of regions in the country; (3) issues of sparsity, scarcity and size are disregarded, and (4)…

Some educators and public officials view schooling for character and citizenship as a basic purpose of public education. However, education that touches on personal beliefs and behaviors has become a subject of legal controversy. This paper explores ways in which public schools might deliver instruction about character and citizenship that are…

The CADRE Project is a collaborative teacher induction effort between higher education and K-12 practitioners. It was designed to make a difference in the induction experience of beginning teachers. The evaluation of the CADRE project was designed to assess whether the needs of the beginning CADRE teachers were being met. In order to assess…

This report on transition services for students with disabilities in Nebraska schools begins with an outline of the development of transition programming as part of special education services, noting federal legislation in this area and the importance of intra-agency and inter-agency cooperative agreements. The role of career education in the…

An art education teacher-educator discusses the strengths and potential of rural education, arising from the sense of community found in small rural schools. Gives six suggestions to art teacher-educators concerning integrating art with other curricula, utilizing technology in art education, ensuring that rural students are afforded equal…

An overview of the status of rural school financing revealed three major reasons why rural schools are facing major problems in financing today: (1) school reforms have generally failed to address the specific needs of rural and small schools; (2) researchers have failed to recognize small school differences in their collection, classification and…

Using examples drawn from extensive observation of schools in Nebraska and the Northwest, two authors (one with less enthusiasm than the other) counter current widespread criticism of today's schools and students. (JM)

Nebraska public schools have experienced a substantial growth in the numbers of children being served by special education programs, particularly in the past 10 years. This increase in services has greatly impacted state budget allotments for special education. For example in 1994, $115 million was appropriated to Nebraska school districts for…

The eight papers in this collection were presented at the Nebraska Library Association College and University Section spring 1991 meeting. Key note speaker Bill Kloefkorn presented poems and stories as an "essay" on literacy and today's college students. (This presentation is not included in the proceedings.) In the selected paper for…

This series of three brief articles, written by the Nebraska commissioner of education, addresses schools for the future. It proceeds with two assumptions: (1) all students can learn and can learn at much higher levels than they are now doing; and (2) schools should be ready and able to teach all kids. The first article addresses, generally, the…