Over the past decade or so, the importance of self-regulation for academic development and later life success has become increasingly clear (Morrison, Bachman, & Connor, 2005). This article is a commentary regarding the articles in a special issue of "Early Education and Development," which broaden the understanding of the important…

Competency models involve a methodology that demonstrates the validity of the model's standards: are people who have the competencies better managers than those who do not? Competency models should no longer be regarded as a panacea and should be only one of the tools used by trainers. (JOW)

Career education has been an important participant in the National Diffusion Network. It has provided a means for public and private schools to review, visit, and be a recipient of proven practices in career education. (Author)

Describes the Youth Training Scheme that will give all young people under the age of 18 the opportunity to acquire a job-related skill. The program will include assessment, basic skills, occupational training, counseling, and progress review. (JOW)

Provides a conceptual framework for describing family day-care services in terms of eight aspects of family day care and the regulation and support of systems. Research and policy implications are considered. (BB)

Believing that educational reforms are overdue, the author proposes three radical solutions: only validated instructional programs should be implemented, results of systematic public assessments of pupil achievements in learning should be published annually, and teachers should periodically submit evidence of learning achievement in their classes.…

Describes Project CLASS (Competency Based Live- Ability Skills), which is aimed at adult basic education students who need instruction in basic skills in order to survive and earn a living in America. (JOW)

This paper identifies nine lessons learned from five federally funded special education research to practice projects. Four projects are school-university collaborative partnerships and one is local-school- based. Both models stress research-validated practices to improve performance of students with and without disabilities across multiple years.…

Described in this document are three stages in the emergence and acceptance in West Germany of the situation-oriented approach to education for "kindergarten" children (ages 3 to 6 years). In brief, this approach stresses learning in real-life situations within the community and values the contributions of children, families, and…

This article discusses the importance of social validity and quality of life concerns in identifying meaningful outcomes for the education of students with severe and multiple disabilities. The article stresses the need for outcomes to result in participation in daily routines and in the student's having more meaningful control over personal…

The decision by a Reagan administration appointee to terminate funding of 13 validated projects illustrates the influence of politics on policy. (Author)

Pointing out a serious decline in the educational attainment of the nation's youth, this discussion of ways in which technology can begin to renew and improve education in American schools argues that, just as cable television and computer teleconferencing opened communication capabilities, the microcomputer presents unlimited possibilities for…

The advent of the Information Age brings the means and tools to improve education through the use of technology. In order to assist educators in kindergarten through grade 12 and in higher education with the development of technological programs, the federal government has made the implementation of technology a primary initiative. There will be a…

Discusses issues to be considered in efforts to determine whether programs are effective for improving education of all middle school students. Details directions effective programs are taking in mathematics, reading, writing and language arts, thinking skills, science, and social studies. Discusses common components of the programs. (BB)

This document reports on three focus groups comprised of state officials, local practitioners and supporters, and researchers who were convened to provide input on strategies for assessing and validating the effects of tech prep. Part I provides a brief summary of the groups' discussions, including major points and broad themes in these four topic…