"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Alliance Releases Teacher Paper: Tapping the Potential: Retaining and Developing High-Quality New Teachers; (2) A…

The national education system in Luxembourg--and especially its vocational training system--has certain special features. Given the small size of the country and its traditional openness toward the outside world, it presently offers only one full-length cycle of university-level studies, a course in industrial engineering. Luxembourgers are…

This book provides an account of the general and specialized sources, in print and non-print formats, that make up the bibliographic and textual structure of federal government information. This edition has been revised to reflect the many changes that have occurred in the production and dissemination of government products within the last five…

Analyzes evaluative comments made about the presidents in 40 U.S. government textbooks published over the last 7 years. These comments present an overwhelmingly negative and unrealistic picture of the presidency. Maintains that textbooks overrate the president's autonomous power and undervalue their positive contributions. (MJP)

Criticizes the traditional approach to teaching U.S. government as being de-contextualized, piecemeal, incoherent, and ineffective. Summarizes an alternative approach that follows historical development but emphasizes the emerging character of the U.S. political system due to the interaction between values, context, and institutions. Text readings…

Discusses the Close Up Foundation's sponsorship of social studies students' trips to Washington, D.C. Describes one school's experience of planning and financing the trip, as well as its public forums and club for students to gain experience in politics and citizenship. Reports a study of Close Up participants, their political attitude…

Discusses the Government Printing Office (GPO) plan for the transition to an electronic Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) that, through a network of partnerships comprised of the GPO, the National Archives and Records Administration, federal agencies, and FDLP libraries, will increase public access to government information. (JAK)

Since the 1970s, finding alternative permanent families for children in foster care who could not return to their birth parents has been a primary goal of the child welfare system. Since that time, significant gains have been made in helping such children find permanent homes through adoption and guardianship. This article analyzes these trends…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been collecting data on student achievement since 1969. It currently maintains three different assessments: long-term trends, cross-sectional national, and cross-sectional state-by-state data. Although the data are available to researchers outside the Federal Government, limited use has…

This publication contains 36 short essays on the reauthorization of the National and Community Service Act. It begins with two introductory papers: "Visions of Service: The Future of the National and Community Service Act" (Sagawa, Halperin) and "Historical Background: An Overview" (Sagawa). Section I, Why Service?, contains 15…

The economic upswing in Central and Eastern Europe can be achieved only with a skilled work force. In view of the traditional exemplary reputation of its dual system of vocational training, attention is being directed toward Germany. The dual system differs from that of other countries in that not only the state determines which qualifications may…

The uses of aptitude tests for entry to language training, diagnosis, placement for training, and certification are described. The Language Training Program of the Public Service Commission of Canada provides language training and testing in French and English to public servants required to use either official language. A variety of aptitude tests…

The Reagan administration is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity (EEO). No policy shift has occurred in the treatment of "class action" litigation, or in the "pattern or practice" suits in the Justice Department's Title VII enforcement activities. Significant money settlements have been obtained in…

This document, the annual report of the United States Department of Education for FY 1984, provides a comprehensive account of departmental activities for the year. The opening report of the Secretary details major accomplishments of the Reagan Administration in education for FY 1984. This is followed by a report from the Office of Private…

A study on access to higher education in Germany was written as part of a larger study on access and admission in that country and the United States. The complex dimensions of the access situation in Germany are set forth, along with the many factors that have produced crisis: demographic trends, reforms in secondary education, legal and…