Study of State Coordination of Research and Development Efforts for Education.

A study of state coordinated research and development efforts for education in Florida public schools was conducted in response to proviso language in the 1976 Legislature's Appropriations Act. The study concluded that the continuation of campus laboratory schools could be justified only if their central mission became that of research and high risk experimentation, sharply focused on the search for solutions to persistent problems in teaching and learning. This report identifies the study's action needs, draws conclusions, and presents specific recommendations for department of education policy and program actions in educational research and development statewide. Part I of the report discusses the background of the study, presents the pertinent proviso language and definitions, and outlines some expected outcomes of a coordinated research and development effort in Florida. Official policies relevant to the education research and development activities are summarized in Part II. Part III (bound as a separate report) provides an evaluation of the laboratory schools. The current state of research and development activities in the Florida state system of public schools is discussed in Part IV. Part V presents information describing the primary advisory structures for educational research and development reporting to the Commissioner of Education. Part VI synthesizes the findings of the study, and Part VII presents conclusions and recommendations. (MM)