Illinois statewide infrastructure mapping provides basis for economic development of the state. As a part of infrastructure mapping, this study is focused on mapping healthcare and education services for Illinois. Over 4337 k-12 schools and 1331 hospitals and long term cares were used in analyzing healthcare and education services. Education service was measured as ratio of population to teacher and healthcare service as the ratio of population to bed. Both of these services were mapped using three mapping techniques including Choropleth mapping, Thiessen polygon, and Kernel Density Estimation. The mapping was also conducted at three scales including county, census tract, and ZIP code area. The obtained maps were compared by visual interpretation and statistical correlation analysis. Moreover, spatial pattern analysis of maps was conducted using global and local Moran's I, high/low clustering, and hotspot analysis methods. In addition, multivariate mapping was carried out to demonstrate the spatial distributions of multiple variables and their relationships. The results showed that both Choropleth mapping and Thiessen polygon methods resulted in the service levels that were homogeneous throughout the polygons and abruptly changed at the boundaries hence which ignored the cross boundary flow of people for healthcare and education services. In addition they do not reflect the distance decay of services. Kernel Density mapping quantified the continuous and variable healthcare and educational services and has the potential to provide more accurate estimates of healthcare and educational services. Moreover, the county scale maps are more reliable than the census tract and ZIP code area maps. In addition, multivariate map obtained by legend design that combined the values of multiple variables well demonstrated the spatial distributions of healthcare and education services along with per capita income and relationships between them. Overall, Morgan, Wayne, Mason, and Ford counties had higher services for both education and healthcare whereas Champaign, Johnson, and Perry had lower service levels of healthcare and education. Generally, cities and the areas close to cities have better healthcare and educational service than other areas because of higher per capita income. In addition to numbers of hospitals and schools, the healthcare and education service levels were also affected by populations and per capita income. Additionally, other factors may also have influence on the service levels but were not taken into account in this study because of limited time and data.

Drawing on literature about place-based education and service-learning, as well as three groups* perspectives about their service-learning experiences, this research describes how place (understood simultaneously as a material agent, a setting for human activity, and a factor in an individual*s situatedness) and identity (understood in terms of one*s social position) are socially- constructed concepts that impact students* writing and learning experiences. More specifically, this project presents place-based education as a teaching method that can focus and reinvigorate service-learning in a writing course. Including place-based content and service-learning projects in a writing course requires careful design and reflection. However, course design should not be an activity limited to just teachers. In alignment with feminist research methods and standpoint theory, this research values and privileges the perspectives of stakeholders who are not normally included in the course design process: students and community partners. To present a rich account of these stakeholders* experiences designing, implementing, and participating in a place-based service- learning project, a combination of qualitative data methods (interviews, classroom observations, and textual analyses) is used. This information serves as the basis for the design of a place-based writing course with a local service-learning component. The proposed course asks students to work with community partners to identify a place-based need that can be addressed—at least in part—by writing-related service. By collaborating with community partners, creating writing products that address community needs, and reflecting on how their identities and learning experiences have been impacted by the places they*ve worked and the communities they*ve worked with, students can apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts, write for real audiences, and develop more thorough understandings of the places where they study, work, and live.

This descriptive study of the twenty regional Education Service Centers in Texas is an exploratory analysis of programs and services that promote school improvement. Data collected from each service center website enabled the researcher to determine which programs and services are available to school districts and also allowed the researcher to analyze the similarities and differences of the programs and services among the twenty ESCs. The study also compared the numbers of programs provided by each service center along with the number of school districts, schools, and students served by Education Service Centers. The data revealed that Education Service Centers serve different numbers of students and districts and they assist schools through a variety of special program support, state and federal funding issues, educator certification programs, and professional development training that are designed to support the teaching and learning process in school districts. Although the number of programs and services vary among the twenty Education Service Centers, they do provide similar programs and services that are effective and provide sustainable systemic support for school improvement throughout their region particularly when it comes to statewide initiatives and areas of federal and state compliance issues and the improvement of student achievement. Throughout the state, Education Service Centers prove to be a valuable resource to school districts seeking solutions from knowledgeable and experienced educational professionals. In conclusion, Education Service centers provide a variety of professional services that can assist superintendents, principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, and other district staff in assisting students throughout their district in achieving the highest possible levels of success in every aspect of the school day. However, it is highly critical that both school leaders and Education Service Centers communicate effectively with each other about the needs of the districts and the services that are available to promote school improvement.

Magistro darbe yra išanalizuoti įvairių Lietuvos ir užsienio autorių mokslinės literatūros šaltiniai apie strateginio valdymo struktūrą, procesą, strategines alternatyvas, strategijos gyvendinimo ir kontrolės procesus. Išsamiai išnagrinėtos teorinės organizacijos valdymo strategijos. Darbe išnagrinėti šie mokslinėje literatūroje nurodomi bei Šiaulių rajono savivaldybės švietimo centre naudoti strateginio planavimo etapai: misija, vizija, tikslai, išorines aplinkos analize ir įvertinimas, vidinės aplinkos analize ir įvertinimas, strateginės alternatyvos, strategijos parinkimas, strategijos realizavimas, kontrolė ir strategijos įvertinimas. Analizuota, kaip Šiaulių rajono savivaldybės švietimo centro klientai vertina teikiamas paslaugas, jų kokybę. Tyrimo metu siekta išsiaiškinti ar strateginio valdymo kokybė priklauso nuo paslaugos gavėjų vidinės motyvacijos, paslaugos kokybės ir bendro paslaugos teikėjo įvaizdžio. Tyrimas patvirtino hipotezę, kad Šiaulių rajono savivaldybės švietimo centro strateginio valdymo kokybė priklauso nuo teikiamų paslaugų kokybės, dalyvių motyvacijos ir įvaizdžio formavimo. Tyrimo išvados parodė, kad švietimo centro strateginis valdymas yra kokybiškas: centro klientai teigiamai vertina teikiamų paslaugų kokybę, bei bendrąjį centro įvaizdį, jų kvalifikacijos tobulinimosi poreikiai tenkinami. Tyrime dalyvavo 200 Šiaulių rajono mokytojų, kurie naudojasi švietimo centro teikiamomis paslaugomis. Tyrimas atskleidė reprezentacijų turinį... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The different Lithuanian and foreign authors‘ scientific literature sources about the structure of strategic management, process, strategic alternatives, the processes of strategy realisation and control have been analysed in the master‘s paper. The theoretical institution management strategies have been thoroughly analysed in this work. The following strategic planning stages indicated in scientific literature and municipality education centre of Šiauliai district have been analysed in the work: mission, vision, objectives, the analysis and evaluation of external and internal environment, strategic alternatives, the choice, realisation, control and evaluation of strategy. The object of the analysis has been the clients‘ evaluation of provided service quality in Šiauliai district municipality education centre. The aim of the survey has been to ascertain whether the quality of strategic management depends on the internal motivation of service receiver, service quality and general image of service provider or not. The survey has confirmed the hypothesis that the strategic management quality of Šiauliai district municipality education centre depends on the quality of the provided service, motivation of participants and image formation. The results of the research showed that, strategic management of education centre is of a good quality: the clients of the centre have evaluated the quality of service and the general image of the centre positively, i.e. their needs of... [to full text]

The following study was undertaken because there was a need to establish whether training information at a local guarantor was relevant to employees and clients. Utilizing transformative learning theory, the purpose of this case study was to explore what the guarantor's employees and management require for new account advisors by conducting open-ended interviews with the guarantor's employees. The guarantor's director secured collections contracts and a long-term enrollment advising contract with a new online university. For the guarantor to have trained account advisors, managers must know what kind of training is necessary. Secondly, the university enrollment is growing, and that could necessitate more advisors to address the increase in student population. During the data collection phase, 9 guarantor employees participated in interviews. The guarantor's managers and employees were asked what training the guarantor requires of new account advisors, what training new hires need, and what training methods should be employed. Thematic coding, content analysis, and triangulation were used to analyze the data. Themes from the results included participatory training, experience required, and customer service. Based on the data analysis, a position paper was created to recommend role-playing, shadowing, and other training methods. The recommendations were made to ensure training and learning are ongoing, relevant to the assigned tasks, and that the guarantor's managers ask clients to play an active role in account advisor training. Social change can be achieved with a more engaged management, a staff armed with relevant knowledge and support, improved skillsets, and a guarantor that can better respond to client needs.

The problem of this study was to survey and report the perceptions of superintendents of school districts in Region 10 regarding programs of service offered by Region 10 Education Service Center. The superintendents of all public school districts in Region 10 were included in the survey study. All school districts concerned were grouped into one of three categories, according to size. The primary purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of superintendents in Region 10 regarding programs of service offered by Region 10 Education Service Center, and to make the results available for use in planning future center operations.

This study addressed the current status of early childhood curriculum design and implementation in the Texas Education Service Centers Seven and Eight. No Previous research about the characteristics of the preschool programs had been completed in those areas. This research established if preschool programs were receiving priority status in East Texas. The results yielded evidence regarding the characteristics of administrators, teachers, curriculum implementation, plus parent and community involvement. The information also provided insight regarding short-term and longitudinal effects on children who have attended preschool programs. Data were collected from a search of educational literature, regional service preschool directors, administrators, and teachers. The procedure used in designing the survey and interview documents was Michael Scriven's goal-free strategy. The main sources for the questions were the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Head Start. The study first directs attention to the common characteristics of national programs/standards, then discusses the level of implementation in local rural prekindergartens. The fifteen open-ended interviews yielded concise information relevant to the population of students served and administrative beliefs on current practices. Surveys were sent to a total of all preschool administrators in the Education Service Center Regions of Seven and Eight. A 51 percent response rate was received. The results of the analysis demonstrated the direction current administrators hope early childhood will take in the areas of 1) developmentally-centered curriculum, 2) parental and community input, and 3) professional development. The administrators' commitments and focal points were correlated with the national standards. Recommendations are made that should result in an overall increase of successful prekindergarten and high school graduates.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:31:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RosanaCCasagrande.pdf: 1477674 bytes, checksum: 566626416b442a9f46f9af45439fca9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work has as its guiding question the theoretical and technical characteristics of theses and dissertations on special education service. Its general aim is to carry out an epistemological analysis of theses and dissertations on special education service written between 2000 and 2009, based on their theoretical and technical dimensions. Its specific aims include: a) To identify, describe and analyse the technical and theoretical characteristics of those theses and dissertations; b) To identify and analyse the types of methodological approach adopted in such works; c) To provide a reflection on the importance of praxis in such works. Following previously established criteria, 18 theses and dissertations were selected for the carrying out of the documentary analysis, which featured a qualitative approach and both quantitative and qualitative data. National and international laws on education, special education and special education service were used as theoretical references along with contributions from authors whose works are related to: a) Research on education, special education and special education service (GATTI, 2001; MARQUES et al., 2008; MARQUEZINE; TRAMONTINA, 2006; MENDES; NUNES; FERREIRA, 2002; MENDES et al., 2004; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, among others); b) Special education history and policy (BUENO, 1993; FERREIRA, 1991; FERREIRA; FERREIRA, 2004; JANNUZZI, 2006; MAZZOTTA, 1996; MENDES, 2006, among others); c) Epistemology applied to education research (LIMA, 2001; SANTOS FILHO; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 2007; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, 2007); and d) Conceptions of the theory-practice relationship and scientific rigour (ANDRÉ, 2001; NORONHA, 2005; SOUZA; RAMOS, 2010; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, 2003, 2007, 2010a, 2010b, among others). The results indicate that most of the researches on special education service can not be characterised or classified by a particular methodological approach because they have a hybrid aspect and are not limited to any methodological boundary. The theory-practice relationship should be better defined by researchers in the field so that they can move forward in the understanding of the importance of praxis in their researches and produce works that are synonymous with transformation rather than just reports on reality. / Este trabalho tem como questão norteadora as características técnicas e teóricas das teses e dissertações sobre atendimento educacional especializado. O seu objetivo principal é realizar uma análise epistemológica de teses e dissertações sobre atendimento educacional especializado produzidas no período de 2000 a 2009, a partir das dimensões técnica e teórica. Os seus objetivos específicos são: a) identificar, descrever e analisar as características técnicas e teóricas dessas teses e dissertações; b) identificar e analisar os tipos de abordagem metodológica encontrados nessas produções; c) propor uma reflexão sobre a importância da práxis nessas produções. Com base em critérios preestabelecidos, 18 teses e dissertações foram selecionadas para a realização da análise documental, que se caracterizou pela utilização de abordagem qualitativa e dados tanto quantitativos quanto qualitativos. Utilizaram-se como referencial teórico: leis nacionais e internacionais sobre educação, educação especial e atendimento educacional especializado e as contribuições de autores cujos trabalhos estão voltados a: a) pesquisa em educação, educação especial e atendimento educacional especializado (GATTI, 2001; MARQUES et al., 2008; MARQUEZINE; TRAMONTINA, 2006; MENDES; NUNES; FERREIRA, 2002; MENDES et al., 2004; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, entre outros); b) história e política da educação especial (BUENO, 1993; FERREIRA, 1991; FERREIRA; FERREIRA, 2004; JANNUZZI, 2006; MAZZOTTA, 1996; MENDES, 2006, entre outros); c) epistemologia na pesquisa em educação (LIMA, 2001; SANTOS FILHO; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 2007; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, 2007); e d) concepções acerca da relação teoria-prática e do rigor científico (ANDRÉ, 2001; NORONHA, 2005; SOUZA; RAMOS, 2010; SÁNCHEZ GAMBOA, 1987, 2003, 2007, 2010a, 2010b, entre outros). Os resultados indicam que a maioria das pesquisas sobre atendimento educacional especializado não pode ser caracterizada ou classificada segundo um padrão de abordagem metodológica devido a seu aspecto híbrido e ao fato de não apresentar uma fronteira metodológica. A relação teoria-prática deve ser mais bem definida entre os pesquisadores dessa área a fim de que avancem na compreensão da importância da práxis nas suas pesquisas e possam torná-las sinônimo de transformação, e não apenas constatação da realidade.

Il presente lavoro di ricerca ha avuto come obiettivo principale quello di studiare e verificare se sia possibile educare alla solidarietà responsabile. In particolare dopo una ricostruzione teorica attorno al tema, si è approfondita la questione sul campo attraverso un’analisi di tipo quantitativo e qualitativo di due modelli pedagogico-didattici realizzati in Italia e in USA. I risultati a cui siamo giunti consentono sia di affermare che l’educazione può essere considerata un fattore chiave per favorire comportamenti solidali, sia di poter progettare nuovi itinerari di ricerca e d’intervento pedagogico in questo ambito. / This research had as main objective to study and verify if it is possible to educate for responsible solidarity. In particular, after a theoretical reconstruction around the theme, the issue has been deepened through quantitative and qualitative analysis on two teaching-learning models in Italy and in the US. The results we have reached allow us both to say that education can be considered a key factor in promoting prosocial behaviors, both to design new routes for research and educational intervention in this area.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo compreender o processo de reconfiguração das proposições que vinculam a educação especial e a educação regular dos alunos com deficiência, considerando os contextos, os espaços decisórios de uma rede municipal de ensino e o investimento em espaços alternativos – centros de atendimento – como possibilidade de apoio complementar à escolarização. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo que, no plano da ação metodológica, investiu prioritariamente na análise documental e na interlocução com os atores sociais envolvidos por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Essas estratégias auxiliaram nas análises das políticas públicas voltadas para a educação especial, associadas às singularidades de um contexto de rede pública municipal na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. Nessa perspectiva, o estudo investiu na reflexão baseada em pesquisas que abordam a temática das políticas públicas educacionais, tendo como um referencial prioritário a abordagem do ciclo de políticas segundo as proposições de Stephen Ball. Na análise de ressignificação interpretativa dos textos nacionais e na produção das políticas locais, observou-se uma reconfiguração significativa, visto que a escolarização dos alunos com deficiência tende a alterar seu caráter substitutivo da frequência às escolas regulares, assim configurado por um período histórico expressivo na rede municipal estudada, passando a ocupar o lugar complementar ou suplementar no processo de educação desses alunos. Conclui-se que a reconfiguração da educação especial nessa rede municipal de ensino tenha se reestruturado com base na obrigatoriedade da dupla matrícula como argumento legal que impulsionou as práticas no sentido de tornar a escolarização dos alunos com deficiência obrigatória nas escolas regulares, nas classes comuns. Essa reconfiguração teve como eixo a transformação da escola especial pública municipal, que atendia alunos com deficiência, em centro de atendimento educacional especializado. O estudo mostrou que temas são considerados eixos de referência para essa reconfiguração: a mudança no perfil do alunado da educação especial; a elaboração da proposta pedagógica do Centro; a participação da comunidade e da família; a escolarização considerada como um direito do aluno e dever da família e do poder público, além da importância conferida à formação docente abarcando os diferentes profissionais envolvidos nas ações constitutivas do currículo e da política educacional. / The present study aimed at comprehending the process of reconfiguration of the propositions linking special education and regular education of students with disabilities, considering contexts, deliberative spaces of municipal schools and the investment in alternative spaces - care centers- as a possibility of additional support for schooling. This is a qualitative research study that, in terms of methodological action, invested primarily in document analysis and dialogue with the social actors involved through semistructured interviews. These strategies helped analyzing public policies for special education, related to the singularities of public health system context in Porto Alegre's metropolitan area. In this perspective, the study invested in speculation based on researches addressing the topic of educational public policies, taking as a primarily reference the policy cycle approach according to Stephen Ball's proposals. In the analysis of interpretative resignifying of the national context and in the production of local policies, a significant reconfiguration was observed, for the schooling of students with disabilities tends to change its attendance's substitute characteristic to the private schools, for a significant historical period in the studied municipal schools, and it starts taking up complementary and additional space in the educational process of these students. As a result, it was concluded that the reconfiguration of special education in these municipal schools had been restructured based on the dual enrollment requirement as a legal argument that has boosted the practices towards turning the schooling of students with disabilities into mandatory in regular schools, in common classes. This reconfiguration had the transformation of special school in specialized educational service center as an axis. The study showed that subjects like the change in the profile of pupils of the Center, the elaboration of the pedagogical proposal of the Center, the schooling seen as a right of the student and a duty of the family and the government, and also teacher training represent highlight points on the changes that happened in the studied schools.