This collection of 22 brief resource guides for parents provides information on various aspects of child development and parenting. Topics include (1) planning an in-home toddler playgroup; (2) terrific and terrible 2-year-olds; (3) 3- and 4-year-olds; (4) the middle years from 6 through 11; (5) adolescents; (6) helping parents discuss sex with…

Developing an effective and efficient early childhood state system will involve efforts to support program quality and a highly qualified professional workforce based on clearly articulated standards for child development and school readiness. This kind of system improvement will rely on collaborative governance, integrated data to drive and…

This manual is intended to assist practitioners working in adult career counseling programs in implementing and expanding services. The first section, which is directed toward program administrators, discusses establishing and managing a career counseling service for adults and includes a checklist for administrators. Discussed next are the…

Guidance is provided in the area of facilities planning, design, and management. Facilities directly influence learning in physical as well as psychological ways. In facilities development, long-range plannning is critical. Strategic and tactical planning characterize an effective planning process. Facilities advisory committees should be involved…

The New York State School Report Card is an important part of the state's efforts to raise learning standards for all students. This guide provides an overview of the changes for the year 2000, answers to frequently asked questions, and descriptions of the state's testing program and other performance measures. This document focuses on questions…

Since exploration of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, opinions, and beliefs about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is crucial to teenagers' ability to develop healthy attitudes and behaviors, and since the language arts classroom is a natural arena for such exploration, this sourcebook presents ideas on how to bring this kind of discussion…

This guide outlines strategies to be used by rural school districts when applying for grants in New York State. The first section addresses the impact of recent federal program reductions and restructuring that have significantly reduced overall federal spending on state education programs. Both federal and state governments are moving away from…

This handbook is designed to serve as a resource guide to New York school district officials who are involved in the application approval, hearing, and verification processes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and for those exercising the free milk option of the Special Milk Program. Detailed information and clarification…

This manual for parents of children and youth with handicapping conditions presents an overview of the special education process in New York State. Part 1, after a brief history of legislation since 1960 which established public education rights for students with handicaps, briefly describes regular education and its interaction with special…

This manual advises library administrators in the state of New York on the responsibilities of individual institutions regarding censorship, patron confidentiality, and other intellectual freedom issues. Besides listing organizations available for consultation, the manual recommends procedures and policies for dealing with law enforcement…

This handbook provides information about interagency collaboration and educational partnerships in rural New York to service providers, planners, and policymakers. A survey identified 52 existing collaborative programs involving approximately 190 New York school districts and 100 nondistrict agencies and examined size and configuration of…

This guide is intended to increase access for individuals with disabilities to local, state (New York), and national testing programs, as well as facilitate the consistent provision of modifications necessary to allow these individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. Ten modules cover the following topics: (1) federal and state…

The purpose of this guide is to provide educators throughout New York State with a convenient source of information on the network of federally funded technical assistance organizations. It begins with a brief consideration of four areas: (1) what technical assistance is; (2) principles of effective technical assistance; (3) when technical…

This booklet provides basic information and guidelines to rural New York school districts competing for grants or other competitive funding. Section 1 examines new realities in the education landscape: the demand for higher academic standards, requirements for increased accountability, the call for systemic change, the need to integrate and align…

This manual is intended to provide directors of funded programs and teachers with an awareness of a wide range of technology services, programs, and applications for improving the quality and effectiveness of instructional support services in New York State schools. The first of nine chapters contains two papers: "Technology Support for…