Most children in the U.S. spend time in some form of early childhood education (ECE) program prior to entering kindergarten. In fact, children spend an average of 25 hours per week in nonparental care, including center-based care and informal family, friend and neighbor care. Children develop a foundation for learning during these early years, so…

There is ample opportunity for state boards to improve outcomes for children by strengthening the early care and education workforce and thereby improving the quality of early care and education. Ensuring that ECE professionals have the knowledge, supports, and resources they need to support children's learning is one avenue to improving the…

In 2006, several dedicated early childhood professionals began work on the creation of the "Nebraska Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals." Representatives from across Nebraska worked together. After the input from various focus groups, the document became public in July of 2007. The current revision process began in late…

This study provides a comparative analysis of the pre-service education system for preschool educators in China and the United States. Based on collected data and materials (literature, policy documents, and statistical data), we compare two areas of pre-service training: (1) the formal system; (2) the informal system. In the formal system, most…

The purpose of the study was to explore the emotional impact nursing faculty experience in relationship to nursing student academic dishonesty and the social and political factors that influence their decision to report suspected acts of academic dishonesty. The study was based on Fontana's 2009 study titled "Nursing Faculty Experiences of…

Although U.S. high school students' access to Earth and space science (ESS) varies widely from state to state, nationally, ESS content is the most neglected area of science education and scientific literacy. States have been considering whether they will formally adopt, or less formally adapt, the new national science education standards, the Next…

Of 35 secondary agriculture instructors in Nebraska (of 40 surveyed), most rated themselves above average in competence in 40 of 50 lab management competencies. Highest ratings were for operating within budget, lowest for computerization. The 10 below average competencies highlight areas to emphasize in preservice and inservice education. (SK)

A survey of 983 special education teachers in Nebraska found that almost one third taught health education to students with disabilities, however, many of these teachers did not perceive themselves as being adequately prepared or confident in their ability to address health education issues related to students with disabilities. (Author/CR)

Both observations and studies of speech education in Nebraska secondary schools revealed an inadequacy in speech curricula and many poorly prepared teachers. In order to assess the status of speech education, in-depth questionnaires were sent to teachers of speech in metropolitan Omaha, with shorter questionnaires being sent to speech teachers…

The Nebraska Language Information Placement Service found that in that area foreign language teachers should be able to teach at least one other subject, not necessarily a language, for job opportunities. Flexibility in teaching is needed. Most openings exist in rural communities. (SC)

The objective of the project was to identify and reach a consensus about common core competencies deemed necessary to all vocational teachers, with the goal of developing a strategy for the implementation of competency-based teacher education in Nebraska. A random sample of vocational educators selected a list of vocational education teacher…

This paper presents the Nebraska edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's 2008 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook". The 2008 "Yearbook" focuses on how state policies impact the retention of effective new teachers. This policy evaluation is broken down into three areas that encompass 15 goals. Broadly, these goals…

Six years after passage of No Child Left Behind and midway to the nation's goal of having students on grade level or better in reading and math by 2014, more data than ever before has been collected about the academic performance of American students and schools. Information in this brochure charts student demographics, achievement-to-date and…

The improvement of the rural schools of the United States is the most important school problem. The most important factor in their improvement must be better educated and better trained teachers. The education and training of teachers should always have some special reference to the work of the schools in which they are to teach. Therefore any…

This policy manual presents the state of Nebraska's regulations and standards for special education programs that are effective April 23, 1996. The regulations include a declaration of responsibility, provide the statutory authority, and address the following areas: (1) definitions of disabilities and other relevant terms; (2) responsibility for…