Based on events in Florida, this case explores issues that accompany the choice to arm school personnel as a means to address school violence and shootings. Readers consider the issue from the perspective of the school board of a large, diverse district and are presented with dilemmas while they consider the effectiveness, the political…

This is the third paper on the topic of outcomes-based funding written by Dennis Jones for Complete College America. The first paper, "Performance Funding: From Idea to Action" (ED535356), proposed a set of design and implementation principles to help states develop and implement their own outcomes-based funding models. The second paper,…

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) playbook series has explored strategies and processes states can use to strengthen CTE program quality and provide students with pathways to postsecondary credentialing and middle- and higher wage career opportunities. In the first three CTE Playbooks, ExcelinEd provided a high-level view of how states can…

Gaps in average college success among students of differing backgrounds have persisted in the United States for decades. One of the primary ways governments have attempted to ameliorate such gaps is by providing need-based grants, but little evidence exists on the impacts of such aid on longer-term outcomes such as college persistence and degree…

The 2013 study, "Looking Beyond Enrollment: The Causal Effect of Need-Based Grants on College Access, Persistence, and Graduation," examined whether eligibility for the Florida Student Access Grant (FSAG), a need-based grant for low-income students in Florida, affects college enrollment, credit accumulation, persistence over time in…

Information Resource Management - State University System of Florida (IRM-SUS) is the primary collector and provider of data concerning state universities that is used to make sound education policy decisions. The office provides technical assistance to those using the information, state and federal reporting support, those supplying information,…

Over the past three decades policymakers have been seeking new ways to secure improved performance from higher education institutions. One popular approach has been performance funding, which involves use of a formula to tie funding to institutional performance on specified indicators. This report reviews findings from studies on performance…

Miami-Dade County voters sent a strong message on November 4, 2014, in a rare (as per public university practices) referendum on their public university's role in their community. The voters made it clear that they want Florida International University (FIU) to expand--to provide more and better educational opportunities for their community, by a…

During 2013-14, national rankings continued to affirm the quality and reputation of New College of Florida's academic program. Princeton Review, Kiplinger's, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Forbes, and Fiske Guide to Colleges each placed New College of Florida in their top rankings. Adding to their reputation, the percentage of…

This statistical report provides data tables on Florida Gulf Coast University's (FGCU's) financial resources, personnel, enrollment, undergraduate education, graduate education, and research & economic development. Highlighted data include: (1) Recent results (fall 2013) of FGCU's participation in the National Survey of Student Engagement…

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is furthering its multifaceted mission of research, scholarship, creative activity, teaching and community engagement in ways designed to support an organizational culture that is, first and foremost, dedicated to student success. By providing increased academic advising and career exploration services, removing…

Florida Polytechnic University offers industry focused, cutting-edge STEM degree programs in the College of Engineering and the College of Innovation and Technology. As a new university, they have the ability to adapt and be responsive to their industry partners' needs in a timely manner. The curriculum is cross-discipline and includes lab and…

This statistical report provides data tables on University of Central Florida (UCF) financial resources, personnel, enrollment, undergraduate education, graduate education, and research & economic development. Highlighted achievements included: (1) "U.S. News & World Report" ranked UCF 14th as an "up and coming" school,…

This statistical report provides data tables on the University of South Florida System's (USF's) financial resources, personnel, enrollment, undergraduate education, graduate education, and research & economic development. Highlights of USF's achievements in the 2013-2014 academic year include: (1) In Tampa, USF celebrated its strongest…

This statistical report provides data tables on the University of West Florida's (UWF's) financial resources, personnel, enrollment, undergraduate education, graduate education, and research & economic development. Highlights of UWF's achievements in the 2013-2014 academic year include: (1) In 2013-2014, UWF was Designated as a "Best…