New Mexico's unique demographics and rich intellectual assets, including two of the three largest national engineering and science research laboratories in the country (Sandia and Los Alamos), provide an excellent national setting for educational transformation. With approximately 320,000 K-12 students, New Mexico's demographics are distinctive:…

"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) "Improving the Distribution of Teachers in Low-Performing High Schools": Alliance Brief and Event Examine…

This study examines the role of corporate influence in shaping an American business school's commitment to racial and ethnic diversity. Themes emerging from an intensive case study include: (a) the centrality of corporate interest and support; (b) co-investment in "pipeline development" strategies that encourage more minorities to pursue business…

Presents strategies and guidelines for generating new action-oriented ideas for recruiting and retaining diverse staff in the recreation field. Recruitment strategies include introducing high school youth to an agency, providing financial assistance, and becoming aligned with certain higher education institutions. Retention strategies include…

Offers practical suggestions for attracting organizational support and funds for high school journalism programs that emphasize minority participation. (NKA)

The D.C. School Choice Incentive Act created the first private kindergarten-through-grade-12 school-choice program supported by federal funds. The program was named the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to assess the (1) accountability mechanisms governing the use of…

This report presents findings about teacher quality from two longitudinal studies, the National Longitudinal Study of "No Child Left Behind" (NLS-"NCLB"), and the Study of State Implementation of Accountability and Teacher Quality Under "No Child Left Behind" (SSI-"NCLB"). The research teams for these two…

A project was developed to identify issues affecting the relationships between minority communities and vocational schools in Massachusetts. Meetings with members of the project's advisory committee and three 1-day conferences involving more than 300 persons and organizations were organized. Five major categories of issues were identified: access,…

It can hardly be said that there have been any dramatic results of affirmative action affecting the situation of minorities and women in higher education institutions. The pervasive institutional attitude toward affirmative action ranges from neutral to negative, and is the major barrier to ending discrimination. Other barriers are preemployment…

This collection of 12 papers was presented at a 1987 conference at which speakers presented personal perspectives on institutional effectiveness. Papers are organized under three major headings: "Managing Quality: Methods and Outcomes,""Institutional Response," and "Special Issues." Titles include: (1) "Managing the Meaning of Institutional…

This report, which is the result of an 18-month examination of the complex factors that influence the quality of teacher education, emphasizes that those involved in the profession should take the lead in improving the education of teachers. Specific recommendations are made for actions by: college-based teacher educators; school-based teacher…

Examines the legal, historical, and pervasive underrepresentation of women in educational administration, paying particular attention to women in urban settings. A profile of female administrators in urban areas is presented, with emphasis on job-satisfaction factors. Implications for the law, policy, and practices to redress this inequality are…

These guidelines for California's community colleges specify required elements of a staff diversity/affirmative action plan, recommend sound practices and activities that will maximize the likelihood of success, and provide information on, and required elements of, related issues such as sexual harassment, handicap discrimination, and AIDS in the…

A report and recommendations of the Arizona Board of Regents' Ad Hoc Committee on University Access and Retention focuses on the enhancement of ethnic minority integration and achievement in Arizona's universities. Eight sections cover: introduction (the challenge for Arizona's universities); House Bill 2108; early outreach (linkages and…

This affirmative action and staff diversity plan was developed to specify strategies and assign responsibility for increasing the number of qualified minorities, women, disabled, and members of other underrepresented groups who staff California's community colleges. Introductory comments explain the rationale behind the plan, indicating that…