This document details a strategy to bring together state and community leaders in the southeastern United States to establish dialogue, set priorities, and make system-wide changes for supporting literacy for the youngest children and their families. The Head, Heart, and Hands campaign has three focal points: (1) Head--understanding research and…

The Family to Family initiative has encouraged states to reconceptualize, redesign, and reconstruct their foster care systems. By 1996, the initiative was being implemented in five states, five Georgia counties, and Los Angeles County, California. The first objective of this initiative is to develop a network of family foster care that is more…

In September 1984, the New Jersey Board of Education launched the Provisional Teacher Program, the first alternative teacher certification program in the United States. The program, or the "alternate route," came from a reform process initiated after a commission created by the legislature concluded that New Jersey's teacher preparation…

This brief provides a snapshot of the types and scale of expansions that states have adopted in the early implementation phase of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a program to expand health coverage for low-income children up to age 19. In addition, the brief examines how coverage expansions vary in relation to state…

The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) is charged with improving library services throughout the state to ensure that all citizens have access to quality library and information services. Part of this charge includes the responsibility for receiving and administering federal funds to the more than 200 public libraries in Alabama. Federal…

This document is comprised of 9 issues of a newsletter providing information on current child advocacy initiatives and accomplishments. Each issue describes one local or state child advocacy program or initiative and its accomplishments. The issues of this publication represent a series of short information pieces to highlight the National…

The tables in this document are based on data collected through the National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), a household survey conducted as part of the Assessing the New Federalism project. The project is national in scope, but has selected 13 focal states for intensive study. These tabulations are based on the 1997 round of the NSAF. They…

Minnesota Statute 169.685 (Seat Belts and Passenger Restraint Systems for Children) requires all drivers to correctly place children under the age of 4 years in child car seats. In response to the requirements of the amended statute, this report presents information to the Minnesota legislature on the commissioner's activities and expenditure of…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996 revised laws governing privacy and confidentiality of information that government agencies collect from immigrants during the benefits application process. Noting that these changes evoked confusion and anxiety in the…

This report presents, in chart form, information about the accountability reports and indicator reports from each state. State education staff were asked to identify and update descriptions of all current state reports that provide accountability or educational indicator information for K-12 education. As of August 1999, all state agencies except…

North Carolina began implementing End of Course (EOC) tests in 1985-86, In 1998-99, student achievement for high school students was measured through results on the 10 required multiple choice EOC tests, the state's writing assessment, and the percentage of students who completed college preparatory courses of study. This report contains the…

This paper describes the intentions of educators and policymakers who implemented a new assessment strategy in Kentucky in 1991, along with its associated shortcomings and one notable success. The principle behind the assessment system was that rather than having an on-demand assessment that would inefficiently replicate the information that was…

Describes the partnership formed by five Indiana state agencies in order to provide and coordinate job placement, counseling, rehabilitation, and unemployment insurance services. Lists examples of the partnership's successes. (NRJ)

Describes Illinois' statewide art competition and exhibit, "Themes on a Great Idea," which is cosponsored by Container Corporation of America, the Springfield, Illinois community arts council, the Illinois Art Education Association, and the Illinois State Board of Education. Photographs of some student works illustrate the article. (SJL)

The National Institute of Education's hearings on minimum competency testing sought to educate the public about both sides of the issue. This article summarizes the ground rules for the hearings and the five points of inquiry debated. (WD)