For the first time, researchers, policymakers and practitioners across the world will have access to a comprehensive mapping of research evidence and policy strategies about education and poverty in affluent countries. Although there is widespread agreement that poverty and poor educational outcomes are related, there are competing explanations as…

The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality asked Public Impact to conduct a study exploring the change processes in the creation and implementation of teacher evaluation systems. This TQ Research & Policy Brief provides an overview of Public Impact's preliminary findings as they relate to the impetus for change and the political and…

In 2007, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 0950694, "The College and Career Readiness Pilot Act", in an effort to reduce remediation within Illinois' community colleges. An important objective of this legislation was to better prepare students to be successful in transitioning from high school to college. According to the…

This article describes how to implement the four-phase curriculum review model, a simplified process for renovating a high school health and physical education curriculum. Although this model was used at a large suburban high school, it could be adapted for use by smaller schools or other disciplines. The four phases of this model are: (1) needs…

The article describes one approach to preparing a diverse group of 15 individuals representing seven different agencies in Chicago-Cook County's criminal justice system, to assume the responsibility for planning, administering, and delivering training within their respective agencies. (Author/BP)

A survey determined people's perceptions of the relationship of vocational-technical education (VTE) to secondary school programs. Data were collected from 451 local school board members, school administrators, school business officials, and citizens from Illinois during a joint convention of the state associations of all three groups in November…

This booklet contains 25 abstracts of research and development projects funded in the fiscal year of 1971 for the Research and Development Unit of Illinois Division of Vocational and Technical Education. Intended to make educators and the general public aware of research and developmental activities in vocational education in Illinois, these…

A study examined basic skills programs at 21 Illinois companies. Most of the top managers interviewed recognized the basic skills training needs of their work forces; however, only 14 of the companies actually offered workplace basic skills programs. Three major motivating factors were identified as catalysts for beginning a program: a drive for…

This report provides information on design and evaluation of workplace literacy programs (WLPs) to improve work force readiness and an overview of concepts about the nature, uses, and abuses of standardized tests in program evaluation and accountability. Chapter 1 takes a sociohistorical and sociopolitical perspective in discussing the knowledge…

In December 1992, a task force of adult educators representing the programmatic and regional diversity within Illinois was appointed to study current issues of adult basic education (ABE). It gathered data from 650 students, program staff, agency representatives, and policy makers and employers and surveyed perceptions of 800 Illinois residents.…

In its sixth annual evaluation report for fiscal year 1974, the Illinois State Advisory Council on Vocational Education found that although the total program of vocational and technical education has grown both in quality and in number of persons served, there are still many needs to be met. High school dropouts, graduates, and adults need at…

On account of concern about declining achievement levels of high school graduates and proposed state legislation increasing graduation requirements to address this concern, this report analyzes current and proposed high school graduation requirements in Illinois, based on data compiled from local school documents, and compares the data to…

The Illinois Community College System Performance Report replaces the Results Report and reflects an initial effort to increasingly streamline and integrate state outcomes and progress reporting in Illinois. The fresh approach taken this year further combines qualitative information and quantitative data reporting. The Performance Report is…

This study finds that nearly every school in the Great Lakes states is threatened to fail the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements mandated by the federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act. NCLB holds schools and districts accountable for student achievement on state standardized tests and schools that do not make AYP face…

This evaluation of programs conducted in fiscal 1978 under the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act (YEDPA) consists of an overall picture of the 1978 YEDPA program experience and case studies of programs in 12 states. Findings and recommendations are presented concerning the implementation of YEDPA programs by Comprehensive Employment…