The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has ushered in a new era of flexibility for state policies and practices related to low-performing schools. Will the states make changes? What aspects of change will need additional support? This descriptive, mixed methods study uses survey data from turnaround leaders in all 50 states and an extant document…

The degree to which state departments of education utilize appropriate strategic planning techniques in the development of statewide education is examined. A modified survey instrument, the "Strategic Planning Questionnaire," was mailed to state educational planning coordinators of 56 states and territories, eliciting 45 responses (an 80 percent…

South Carolina's first major dropout prevention initiative began two decades ago when leaders became more interested in the industrial development of the State. A 1966 study found that black youths were experiencing a dropout rate of 72%, while that of white youth was 48%. Statewide efforts taken in the early 1970's to alleviate this problem were…

The approach of Georgia's career education program is one in which the state leadership serves first as a catalyst in stimulating local educators to re-examine the educational needs of their students, and second, as a source of assistance to local educators as they think through, within the context of their local environments, the changes they…

A statewide assessment was made of specific nutrition education and training needs in Maryland public schools. The approach used allowed an examination of both needs and possible solutions, examined needs which required multiple solutions, and identified resources which could address multiple needs. This multimethodological approach included site…

The Florida Plan for systemwide academic program review is detailed in this report. Factors leading to the initiation of systemwide review, including population changes and the changing role of the predominantly black Florida A&M University, are discussed. The design and scope of the review process are explained and selection of consultants to…

Methods of academic resource planning for research-oriented colleges and universities are explored. Focus is on resource allocation that is not strictly related to overall institutional enrollment level, but with the desirability of maintaining a minimum or "critical mass" levels of program breadth and quality. The purpose of critical…

This report summarizes the contents of the 270 secondary level basic skills improvement program plans for reading, writing, and mathematics submitted by school districts in Massachusetts to the State Department of Education. School districts developed these plans in response to the State Board of Education Policy and Regulations published in…

Maryland's School Improvement Through Instructional Process (SITIP) program involves all 24 local education agencies in implementing one or more of the following research-based instructional models: Active Teaching, Mastery Learning, Student Team Learning, and Teaching Variables. Following a review of background information, state education agency…

Cooperation between state associations and state educational agencies depends on information transfer, individual and group process, and cooperative planning activities. Cooperative planning between the two groups can be accomplished through: (1) access to information relevant to the development of sound media programs, (2) the generation of…

This position paper suggests ways in which the practice of multiculturalism in teaching could be enhanced within the context of Kentucky's school reform. The Kentucky Education Reform Plan advocated high educational goals for students; developed an accountability system that rewarded schools which improved the success of students and intervened in…

This paper summarizes some of the issues raised and recommendations made at the second topical conference for State Education Agency (SEA) personnel. The conference focused on managing and coordinating a state program for the dissemination of educational information. Recommendations include: (1) increase awareness of the importance of…

Writing teachers at the University of Oregon have established working relations in three different ways with teachers outside their department. First, they have set up sections of a required composition course to be taught in conjunction with courses in other disciplines; workshops to develop skills in handling students' writing are conducted for…

The Florida Department of Education (FDE) is developing an educational blueprint for the 1990s with a strong commitment to vocational and adult education. Commitments are being made to implement career education concepts, extend job awareness experiences to the elementary grades, counsel students to ensure early career plans, enhance vocational…

In 1983, Colorado began a project to augment its pool of qualified French and Spanish teachers, enhance the foreign language programs of participating schools, improve the skills of French and Spanish teachers already teaching, meet the need of isolated rural districts, and develop alternative and accelerated teacher certification. A task force…