In 2022, New Mexico joined the list of states that adopted a statewide promise program, offering tuition and fee assistance for eligible students to pursue higher education. The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship (NMOS) differs from existing programs by including part-time and summer enrollment, academic and workforce degrees, and older adult…

The resources that federal financial aid, state financial aid, and federal public benefits programs provide, when they operate effectively, are critical to older students and students with children. This report seeks to shed light on how these programs are functioning by analyzing data and policies across four states--Colorado, Missouri, North…

Free college has been gaining traction as a public policy option in recent years and has been adopted in some form by at least 15 states. Enthusiasm for the idea has gained momentum with the growing realization that a healthy economy requires a well-educated workforce and that workers benefit immensely from education beyond high school. Indeed,…

In 2006, Michigan changed their traditional merit award to a credit contingent program based upon successful completion of 60 college credits. The Michigan Promise Scholarship was crafted by state policymakers without input from the financial aid community. This case study suggests that the change in policy resulted in two unintended consequences:…

This Education Policy Brief revisits the evidence of the benefits and impact of prekindergarten programs as documented in the 2006 report, "Closing the Achievement Gap Series: Part I. Is Indiana Ready for State-Sponsored Prekindergarten Programs? Education Policy Brief. Volume 4, Number 7, Summer 2006," and provides updated information…

Describes how Rampano College preserved and redesigned its student affairs programs and services while being forced to manage statewide cutbacks in overall funding. Discusses how the Division of Student Affairs agreed upon concrete principles on how to best use resources and services, thereby meeting the challenges of the fiscal crisis while also…

This report was written in response to requests from the Office of Long Range Planning (OLRP) of the New York State Education Department (SED). The work covers two different areas: the continuation of program analyses and the continuation of program designs addressing problems of educational accountability. As a result of SED resource allocation…

The Governor's Educator Excellence Grant (GEEG) program was federally- and state-funded and provided three-year grants to schools to design and implement performance pay plans from the 2005-06 to 2007-08 school years. GEEG was implemented in 99 high poverty, high performing Texas public schools. This report builds on the previous GEEG evaluation…

A study was undertaken to determine how driver education courses in Texas schools can be designed to reach maximum effectiveness for a maximum number of eligible new drivers. The two-phased, classroom instruction plus an "in-car" practicum were found to be the type of driver education commonly offered. A consensus description of a quality driver…

This report presents findings from the second-year evaluation of the Governor's Educator Excellence Grant (GEEG) program. The GEEG program was federally- and state-funded and provided three-year grants to schools to design and implement performance pay plans from the 2005-06 to 2007-08 school years. GEEG was implemented in 99 high poverty, high…

A study analyzed the role of state governments in implementing federal education and job training policies and in designing and implementing their own policies. A framework was developed for understanding policy instruments used to promote education and training objectives: mandates, inducements, capacity-building, and system-changing. Each type…