This volume presents a summary of the methods, findings and recommendations for federal policy of the National Day Care Study (NDCS), a 4-year study of the effects of regulatable day care center characteristics on the quality and cost of day care for preschoolers. Chapter I describes current day care services and the history of federal involvement…

Forecast of a 1986 program of educational innovation involving education stamps and student bank accounts is presented. The objectives of the program are to provide more efficient, less expensive, and more equal education. The author maintains that these objectives will be met by allowing average citizens to spend money on an individual basis in…

The kindergarten year is quite unlike preschool and not like first grade, either. What should teaching practice look like for this critical year? This book offers a vivid picture of kindergarten children, perceptive discussion of the current kindergarten context and policy issues, and clear guidelines for teaching and assessing kindergartners.…

Surveys show that 98% of school districts are reporting shortages of special education teachers, and that nearly a quarter of a million new special education teachers will be needed over the next few years. Special education teachers are leaving the field at twice the rate of general education teachers. Why? Special education teachers can quickly…

A study addressed educational and psychological issues raised by the phenomenal growth of Irish-medium pre-schools ("naionrai"). Data were gathered in surveys of almost 2,000 parents, over 170 teachers and advisors, and 225 children in 25 Irish-medium pre-schools in both "Gaeltacht" (Irish-speaking districts) and…

Australia's construction industry employs nearly 600,000 workers, over 7% of total national employment. The industry is heavily dominated by males (nearly 88%) and full-time workers (86%). Much of the work in this industry involves subcontracting and is cyclical. Construction employers provided much less structured training than the average…

Preventing child abuse is an endeavor that requires equal parts of caring, optimism, and pragmatism. Drawing on the experiences of more than 100 child abuse prevention projects, this field-tested manual integrates the abstract principles of program development and prevention with the real world experiences and challenges faced by prevention…

This report provides an assessment of NIH's programs for increasing the participation in biomedical science of individuals from underrepresented minority groups. The report examines, using available data and the results of a survey of NIH trainees, the characteristics and outcomes of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and…

This book provides conceptual and practical strategies for the data and information collection and analysis needs of a diverse group of institutions, ranging from small rural community colleges to large urban research institutions. The model framework is designed for use by any size or type of institution and gives a broad overview of various…

Assessment of student progress in community colleges is necessary for several reasons; among them are accountability to the public, improvement of decision-making for both students and educators, and planning and evaluation of curricula. This sourcebook focuses on various types of student progress--vocational, social, academic, transfer--and on…

This broad survey of research on instructional television examines a variety of aspects relating to its effectiveness in the classroom. An introductory essay identifies significant trends that have emerged since the original publication of this report. Chapter one reviews the generalized effects of TV on pupil learning, including variations in…

This document uses the findings of educational research and actual case studies to provide guidance on enhancing the learning of adults in higher education while reducing program costs in the context of increasing demands for demonstration of student learning outcomes and decreases in college and university resources. The novelty of the book is…

The impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on working families was analyzed. The analysis established that the EITC is, on balance, a highly effective program that meets its primary objectives well. The following benefits of the EITC were identified: (1) it reduced the poverty rate in 1999 by an estimated 1.5 percentage points; (2) it is…

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'…

Begun in Israel in 1960, the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program is a family support, parent-focused, early childhood literacy program. This book compiles 17 evaluation studies of the program, from researchers and practitioners in 7 countries. The studies are organized around five themes: exploring theoretical…