The human brain develops rapidly in the first five years of life. High-quality early learning experiences can have a profound and lasting positive effect on young children during these years, setting the stage for success in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for young children with high needs who are from low-income families; who…

In 2009, Excelencia in Education launched the Ensuring America's Future initiative to inform, organize, and engage leaders in a tactical plan to increase Latino college completion. An executive summary of Latino College Completion in 50 states synthesizes information on 50 state factsheets and builds on the national benchmarking guide. Each…

All students, including students with disabilities, must be included in state accountability systems as required by law. In April 2007, federal regulations provided states the flexibility to offer another assessment option--an Alternate Assessment based on Modified Achievement Standards (AA-MAS) for some students with disabilities. The AA-MAS is…

In April 2007, Federal No Child Left Behind regulations were finalized that provided states with additional flexibility for assessing some students with disabilities. The regulations allowed states to offer another assessment option, alternate assessments based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MAS). States are not required to have…

This state assessment at the third-grade level is the first stage of a proposed three-year evaluation cycle of third, sixth, and ninth grades in North Carolina to aid personnel in making accurate decisions regarding improvement in the social studies curriculum. Students were randomly selected to represent the third-grade population in the state…

This articulation instructional objective guide for executive secretary/business education contains summary information on sixteen blocks (courses) of instruction. They are the following: introduction to business, business mathematics, personal development, typing--beginning, records management, business machine--calculating, business…

All of the goals, objectives and programs outlined for North Carolina are interrelated. In each of them, special attention is given to such Federal priorities as service to low-income families; strengthening the Office of State Library administrative agency; serving the physically handicapped and blind; the institutionalized (especially…

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a nonprofit organization that works collaboratively with North Carolina and 15 other member states to improve education at every level--from pre-K to postdoctoral study--through many effective programs and initiatives. SREB's "Challenge to Lead" Goals for Education, which call for the…

This statewide revised Standard Course of Study, mandated by North Carolina's Elementary and Secondary School Reform Act of 1984, provides a detailed, integrated curriculum plan for all subjects at all grade levels. An initial section provides an introduction ("Notes") to the users of the "North Carolina Competency-Based…

This paper responds to a request asking for a Response to Intervention (RtI) background information and a scan of what states are doing in this area. This paper presents summaries that provide basic information about the status of state RtI initiatives in each of the southeastern states. The information was collected from State Education Agency…

North Carolina's approach and philosophy concerning K-3 programs are described. Information is provided on the following topics: (1) early childhood education (K-3) background; (2) State Board of Education objectives for kindergarten-early childhood education centers; (3) the reasons for kindergartens; (4) major trends in early childhood…

Describes the development and testing of the North Carolina minimal competency testing program. (IRT)

A description of the Occupational Exploration program implemented in North Carolina in 1970 for grades 7 through 9 is presented. The Environmental Laboratory, which includes the Agribusiness and Natural Resources Occupational cluster, is emphasized. (LH)

This biennial report outlines many of the steps taken to improve North Carolina's system of public schools. It also outlines what actions are needed to continue the progress. Although the state has experienced rising SAT scores and a decreasing dropout rate, several challenges remain: decrease class size, provide funds for school facilities,…

Representatives of several states met to identify basic elements of a tracking system designed to ensure that disabled and at-risk infants and their families receive continuous and appropriate services to improve health and developmental outcome. Discussants explored six clusters of questions concerning the following: realistic goals and…