This article shares wisdom from three leaders in the Baltimore nonprofit sector on university engagement with local communities. In conversation with the directors of Towson University's Grant Writing in Valued Environments (G.I.V.E.) program, the community leaders give practical advice to be used in grant writing and community engagement efforts,…

Adoption of the edTPA as part of new teacher licensing and/or program approval requirements has created heated discussions among teacher educators. Among the discussion topics is the supposition that state-level bureaucrats have been the sole source of the decision to require the edTPA, with little input from the preparation programs. This article…

This article describes a group of dedicated educators who, in the midst of a constant barrage of attacks, dramatically changed the conversation. It is the story of a union that recognized that, in order to bring about the transformation necessary for the betterment of the entire community, its members needed to transform the way in which it…

This document is a summary of the report "What Makes Great Teaching". It argues that improved teacher ­development will positively impact on pupil attainment, particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds. "Developing Teachers" presents five policy recommendations which have been signed by 17 of Britain's leading headteachers…

The economy has school districts in a stranglehold. But there is a way out. Despite beliefs to the contrary, the grant money pot has not dried up. The author's book "Successful Grant Writing for School Leaders: 10 Easy Steps" shares strategies and success stories from some of his own 30 school grants and from school districts small and…

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) is encouraged by President Obama's commitment to increasing college access and success for all students, as evidenced by the recommendations in his Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal. Efforts like the Access and Completion Fund, the American Graduation Initiative, the expansion of student loan…

The government is consulting the sector on a new skills strategy and a simplified funding system for further education (FE). Some of the leading players were asked what they made of the government's vision and what they would like to see in the strategy. Brendan Barber warns that spending cuts will undermine many of the positive proposals in the…

Various forms of practitioner research have received attention for potential to improve schools, yet few studies focus on social circumstances of projects and schools which make potential easier or more difficult to recognize. The "Taking Stock" project in a California elementary school combines teacher and collaborative-action research.…

The Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) is a bold approach to improving student learning by encouraging teachers, parents, and the community to work collaboratively to introduce innovative projects that address local needs. Initiated in 1999 by the Alberta Government and its partners, AISI provides targeted funding to school…

This article discusses the Government's proposals for "extended" primary schools, an important element in the recently-published five-year plan for education. The author expresses concern that extended primary schools will not provide a variety of experiences, including "play" experiences for young children.

The Basic Education and Policy Support Activity (BEPS), a new five-year initiative sponsored by United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Center for Human Capacity Development, is designed to improve the quality, effectiveness, and access to formal and nonformal basic education. BEPS operates through both core funds and buy-ins…

Explains how school librarians can write a grant proposal to obtain new equipment that is not covered in their normal budget. Topics include designing a grant for a specific need; finding a grant and following the guidelines; statement of need; collaboration and partnerships; and a list of Web sources for writing grants. (LRW)

The federal Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Program--Title II-A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001--provides funding for partnerships between Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support professional development for teachers. The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) administers…

This document reports on a science education reform program sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The program is an attempt to overhaul the reform efforts of the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and participation in the project has been underway since 1994. Funds from the institute support teacher training in the use and…

Collaborative grant conceptualization and writing gave depth to a school/university partnership that applied for and secured a grant to enhance, through technology, the environmental education program of a local elementary school. The proposal development process is described and critically analyzed. Lessons learned about collaborative planning…