The first National Drug Control Strategy set ambitious two and five-year performance based goals: (1) to lower the rate of drug use by 10 percent over 2 years among both youth and adults; and (2) to lower the rate by 25 percent over 5 years. The chapters in this updated version are keyed to the strategies three priorities: (1) Stopping Use Before…

This book analyzes the responses of five states (Florida, Mississippi, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin) to challenges posed by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to alter state welfare programs and management systems. Using case studies, the book highlights similarities and differences in the states'…

The Enterprise Florida Jobs and Education Partnership has taken actions to resolve issues raised in a previous report. The legislature has expanded the partnership's work force development (WFD) role; assigned it a role in implementing the state's welfare-to-work program; and established additional incentive funding for WFD program outcomes. The…

This article describes how the Professional Development School without Walls, a partnership between the Departments of Special Education and Elementary Education at the University of South Florida and two large school districts, was developed; the challenges, needs, and contexts influencing the development and implementation process; and the…

Inverness Research studied the American Museum of Natural History's (AMNH) Seminars on Science program for eight years, from its inception in 1998 to 2006. This paper presents teacher survey ratings for "The Link between Dinosaurs and Birds", along with profiles of three teachers who took the course. Course takers report on the annual…

This paper describes an information system designed for data-based decision making by a state vocational education agency in prioritizing courses for instructional materials development or acquisition. This needs assessment system is the second part of a project which focused attention on the need for competency-based instruction. The information…

Florida's Workforce Development Education (WDE) Program was subjected to an evaluation and justification review to determine its benefit to the state and evaluate its systemwide performance. The following components of Florida's WDE program were evaluated: career and technical education (CTE); adult education programs; and continuing education…

In 1991, the Florida State Community College System conducted a statewide review of its visual and performing arts instructional programs. As part of the review process, existing data sets were analyzed, three advisory committee meetings and five regional hearings were held, and a survey was distributed to all 24 colleges in the system. In…

A study examined the effectiveness of policies and procedures used for vocational job preparatory student placement and followup in Florida's public schools. During the study, researchers (1) conducted interviews with approximately 40 persons having statewide knowledge of or involvement in some phase of vocational education placement and followup…

A school on Florida's west-central coast was selected as the site for the Language Intensive Lab Accelerated Classroom (LILAC) program which was developed to address the need for a county-wide, objective-based educational program for non-English proficient (NEP) and limited-English proficient (LEP) Hispanic children in grades K-2. The number of…

The Florida Preservice/Inservice Training Program for Local Administrators of Vocational Education is a competency-based program that was developed in 1981-1982 to provide a means of meeting the state certification needs of present vocational administrators as well as the inservice needs of presently certified local vocational administrators and…

A consortium effort in Florida was evaluated for the period July 1, 1974 through June 30, 1977. Implemented in Florida's Sarasota County and Manatee County school districts, Manatee Junior College, and the University of South Florida, the project included three components (guidance, curriculum, and placement/follow-up), each functioning at four…

Each year, the Community College Survey of Student Engagement ("CCSSE") presents the results of its annual survey. These survey results help community colleges assess their educational practices so they can improve student outcomes in one of the most challenging and least understood sectors of American higher education. There are several…

Each year, the Community College Survey of Student Engagement ("CCSSE") presents the results of its annual survey. These survey results help community colleges assess their educational practices so they can improve student outcomes in one of the most challenging and least understood sectors of American higher education. There are several…

Mentoring is a structured one-on-one relationship between an adult and youth that focuses on the needs of the youth, providing him or her with support, guidance, and assistance. This information capsule summarizes research findings on the impact of mentoring on factors such as academic achievement, social behaviors, attitudes, drug and alcohol…