This playbook addresses the "how" in the continuous improvement process, focusing on schools and communities. It is a step-by-step guide for superintendents, principals, staff, and communities on how to engage in the school continuous improvement cycle while recognizing the unique assets and challenges of communities and their schools.…

There has been considerable discussion among policymakers and school leaders in recent years about the need to prepare students as early as junior high and high school for the demands of the 21st Century knowledge economy. Efforts to provide this combination of knowledge and skills often fall under the label of "Career and Technical…

Maine is blessed with universities that have records of significant achievement. The seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS) together educated over 23,000 students (full-time equivalent) during the past year. But for good reason, in recent years public confidence in higher education throughout the nation has fallen. Half of the…

Shared leadership is a process empowering parents to exercise their civil rights, build leadership skills, and guide the design of policy positions and programs meant to improve their lives and the well-being of their children. Based on principles of family support practice, this book describes how to plan and host a 1- to 3-day shared leadership…

As superintendent, and with the support of this detailed book, board meetings can now be turned into productive, results-getting events that help one focus on teaching, learning, and achieving district goals. The authors, having chaired over 1,000 board meetings among them, discuss: (1) Creating role clarity and building the superintendent-based…

This report explains savings accounts and low-deposit investments in order to help consumers determine which accounts are right for them. It is divided into the following four sections (topics covered are listed in parentheses): (1) the savings program (setting savings goals, saving regularly, choosing a savings account, interest, the savings…

To help educators and community members design and conduct community council elections, this book describes six successful election projects conducted in midwestern communities in response to federal Teacher Corps regulations. The projects exhibit a variety of approaches and were conducted in varied settings with limited resources. The first…

This report describes principles and techniques for credit management. Topics covered include: (1) methods of determining personal credit limits; (2) ways to keep track of credit use; (3) suggestions for planning credit use; (4) explanations of single-payment charge accounts, revolving credit, installment credit, and consolidation loans; and (5)…

This basic, entry-level guidebook introduces public broadcasters to videotext or teletext technology and the range of services it can provide. Following an explanation of basic terms and a review of the early history of videotext, a summary of research findings from commercial and public trials of teletext addresses such topics as consumer…

This article concentrates on the use of online searching to provide information needed by business for strategy formulation. The following steps are explained: environment analysis (structural analysis, trend analysis); business analysis; strategy formulation; strategic anticipation; strategic plan formalization; and implementation and control.…

A new multi-year effort to promote the health, positive development, and well-being of children has been established in the midwest Great Lakes region. The working name of this project is the Kellogg Pre-Birth through Age Three initiative. The first phase focuses on cross-site participation in the development of an overall design. Phase 2 will…

The Department for Education and Employment has produced this updated bulletin on school grounds development, highlighting the potential of these grounds as a valuable resource that can support and enrich the whole curriculum and the education of all pupils. The educational use of school grounds has positive affects on student attitudes towards…

Prepared to assist American Indians in initiating entrepreneurial activities, this booklet offers practical guidance on starting and operating a business. Section I defines the term "entrepreneurship," and provides a self-evaluation checklist focusing on the qualities needed by entrepreneurs. Section II briefly discusses four forms of ownership…

Focusing on small, independent businesses, this primer answers questions relating to starting and operating a new firm and how local development organizations can help in the process. The general pattern of the company forming process (displacement, disposition to act, credibility, and availability of resources) is discussed. Success factors for…

This planning guide is designed to help communities answer important questions about programs to address youth violence, including finding out the types of programs that are effective and learning how to implement them. The guide is divided into four sections. Section 1, "Key Facts about Youth Violence," presents key facts about youth violence…