This report is intended to help governors, legislators, department secretaries, and advocates find information on ways to strengthen the structure and function of their existing cabinets, or create a new cabinet. The survey in this report is the nation's only survey of state child and youth policy coordinating bodies. The biennial survey assesses…

The paper focuses on the need for trained mentors in developing new hires in any profession and outlines a developmental theoretical framework as a basis for mentor training. To illustrate the success of trained developmental mentoring, a unique mentoring program called the Kansas Early Career/Mentor Teacher Academy is reviewed. The paper shares…

This article provides a history of the Professional Development School (PDS) movement in Kansas, as well as the major influences and challenges ahead as partnerships continue to grow and adapt. Mercer and Myers highlight the Kansas State Department of Education's (KSDE's) engagement in dialogue about the professional learning continuum of licensed…

Pam Shanks describes Raintree Montessori School, an exemplary inclusion school, and gives credit to the legacy of Dr. Montessori. An inclusive Montessori community begins with "physical integration of all children, progresses to functional inclusion, and finally culminates in the highest level, social inclusion." Each of these levels is…

The 1983 publication of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform" (National Commission of Excellence in Education) "initiated the longest sustained period of attention to public education in the nation's history and ignited a new wave of interest in teacher preparation" (NRC, Committee on the Study of Teacher…

Educational improvement can be measured over time and against benchmarks in four key areas: (1) mastery of basic reading and math skills; (2) high school completion; (3) preparation for postsecondary education; and (4) adult educational attainment. The first three reflect how the school system prepares students for postsecondary education. The…

Finance students today live in the midst of an enormous financial crisis. Institutions both large and small are failing or being rescued through government intervention. This environment presents a host of learning opportunities for instructors as well as students. This paper discusses financial autopsies as a form of experiential learning…

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…

As the deadline set forth by No Child Left Behind approaches, it is clear that the goal of proficiency in English language arts and mathematics for all students by 2014 will not be met. As a result, the U.S. Department of Education has offered states the option of applying for flexibility on parts of the law. This policy brief outlines those…

In 1985, then American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) President Dale Parnell wrote of the "neglected majority," a phrase he coined for the astounding 70 percent of high school graduates who did not plan or aspire to attain baccalaureate degrees. Twenty-two years later, community college and public policy leaders still face the…

Interorganizational structures may have elements that promote or reduce stress and conflict among participants. This study identified such elements in an interorganizational structure that was classified as a loosely coupled system. The interorganizational structure examined was the Internships, Certification, Equity-Leadership, and Support (ICES)…

The Salina Area Vocational Technical School has a special vocational program which provides selected vocational training courses for students with physical, emotional, or intellectual handicaps. The program offers vocational counseling, placement services, work evaluation, job readiness training, and vocational training tryouts. Vocational…

This document builds on the groundwork established in the 1981 State Plan by the Kansas Statewide Inservice Task Force. This task force was appointed by the Kansas State Board of Education for the planning and implementation of a statewide teacher inservice process and for the coordination of preservice and inservice activities. Based on the…

The Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) and classroom teachers working in conjunction with Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, developed the Lesson Plan Resource system. The CLI is a not-for-profit school consulting and publishing firm, also based in Emporia, Kansas, whose curriculum development model is used in over 1,000 schools in…

The Kansas Migrant Education Program is a supplement to the regular school curriculum, designed to increase the academic achievement of migratory children. Projects include remedial and compensatory instruction, academic and vocational instruction, bilingual and multicultural educational services, special counseling and testing services, preschool…