Lack of adequate access to capital is a major barrier for rural entrepreneurs. Washington State University Extension and the Association of Washington Cities partnered to explore and test an innovative local investment approach that provides access to capital and engages the community in the success of individual businesses. The approach offers…

Profiles successful magnet arts schools in New Orleans, Prince George's County (Maryland), and Denver and provides guidelines for school board members desiring to open schools of the arts. Board members are urged to garner support, find a suitable location, build a staff, decide on format and enrollment method, and develop partnerships with local…

Better understanding and increased resources are a result of partnerships between schools and communities. Changes in societal patterns and lessened federal support necessitate this reordering in education. Nine steps are presented for developing such partnerships. (MD)

This report describes a program promoting alternative financing of child care services by corporations and public employers in Portland, Oregon. Chapter 1 states the rationale for the approach and policy that the "Community Shares" program represents. The rationale includes the argument for a community program of child care information,…

This paper describes some major issues facing federal and local administrators in their efforts to build local capacity in bilingual education through the Title VII grants program. The discussion is developed in three parts: (1) the legislative history of the capacity building mandate in Title VII and the federal statutory provisions shaping this…

Business incubators can help fledgling firms get off the ground by providing business services and rental space, at below-market costs, for a business's first few years. The payoff for the community is more jobs. Concentrated until recently in urban areas, incubators are now succeeding in rural areas too. (JHZ)

Monitoring the progress of teams over 18 months and analyzing the activities of 2 teams revealed financially stable and supportive sponsoring agencies and the community were critical factors in implementing services. Future programs trying to promote development of geriatric services should try to address these issues through community…

Maryland community colleges receive financial support from both the state and their local jurisdiction, as well as from student charges and other income from operations and investments. The proportion of local aid varies considerably across jurisdictions. A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) to measure local support…

Of potential interest to small towns in rural areas, this report describes England's first attempt at applying to a rural area the concept of a multi-agency information and advice center based on a library. The comprehensive review covers all phases of the project: (1) identification of a community's information and advice needs; (2) consultation…

The 16 articles in this issue focus on planning for future trends in public library administration. Topics discussed include leadership qualities; administrator education; collective bargaining; funding and budgeting; governance; user fees; collection management; community involvement and support; special population groups; services to educational…

Five minority alternative drug abuse prevention programs (three Indian and two Hispanic) in New Mexico were evaluated to determine which elements were successful or unsuccessful in addressing the needs of Indian and Hispanic youth regarding the relationship of substance use and abuse, cultural differences, and self-concept. The programs were…

Declines in the numbers of 18-22-year-old college students, coupled with rapidly rising costs for providing education, are contributing to the increased efforts that colleges and universities are making to attract nontraditional students into both traditional and nontraditional programs. A study was made of all 73 colleges and universities in…

"The Condition of Education" summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report, which is required by law, is an indicator report intended for a general audience of readers who are interested in education. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most…

Although communities are making progress in establishing comprehensive systems for serving youth, they still face challenges. Enabling conditions that have allowed innovative youth councils to develop systems of youth development, education, and employment include: (1) youth opportunity grants; (2) established intermediary organizations; (3)…

To ensure reliable, accurate, and timely data, which are necessary to monitor the progress of education in the United States, Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report, "The Condition of Education." This year's report presents 59 indicators of important developments and trends…