This is a testimony from Michael Weiss, a senior researcher at Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research organization that is dedicated to learning what works to improve policies and programs that affect the poor. Founded in 1974, MDRC evaluates existing programs and develops new solutions…

Developmental education courses in college--defined as classes taken in college that are below college level (Bautsch, 2013)--have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Concerns focus on the large number of students enrolled in developmental education courses, the high cost of providing them, and the low success rates among students who…

The human brain develops rapidly in the first five years of life. High-quality early learning experiences can have a profound and lasting positive effect on young children during these years, setting the stage for success in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for young children with high needs who are from low-income families; who…

Across the United States, students are entering college with a need for improvement in basic mathematics and communication skills. In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1908 which changed the expectations for the senior year of high school for many students. Students who score within certain levels on the mandatory high school…

The purpose of the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) program is to improve the quality of early learning and development and close the achievement gap for children with high needs. The RTT-ELC grant competition focuses on improving early learning and development for young children by supporting States' efforts to increase the…

Reviews and evaluates the past ten years of policy development of democratized school government in the United Kingdom. Specifically examines the Taylor Committee of 1975, the Taylor Report of 1977, and subsequent development of policy through 1980, including the proposed 1986 Education Bill and Education Act. (BSR)

This dissertation examines bilateral cooperative arrangements, between developing junior colleges and 4-year institutions, funded by Title III of the 1965 Higher Education Act. The study attempts to identify the dimensions of this type of arrangement, and to determine the relationship between these programs and the intent and purpose of Title III.…

This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of investigating State legislation pertaining to vocational, technical, adult, manpower, and career education and its impact on curriculums and programs. Computer search methodology was utilized to identify relevant laws in five states: Maryland, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Analysis of…

This list of exemplary projects in vocational education includes one from each state, plus one each from Puerto Rico, the Trust Territories of the Pacific, and Guam. Two are reported for the state of Minnesota. The grant number, project director and grantee including an address, project title, duration data, and the amount of federal funds…

Pastoral care embodies the idea that schools should not limit their activities to the transmission of knowledge but should educate the whole child. This paper outlines five "pastoral tasks", casework, preventive work, pastoral curriculum, community building and management, and considers how each might contribute to the five desired…

The report describes the impact on the nation of a nine-year effort in research and development in vocational-technical education. Major impact projects are described: (1) developing and restructuring vocational curriculum, (2) developing prevocational curricula, (3) vocational information and guidance systems, (4) management information systems,…

State applications for the Part H program of Public Law 99-457 were classified by type of lead agency and by level of previous early intervention activities. Two variables were then analyzed: required components emphasized during initial year activities, and allocation of funds for administration, interagency coordinating council, planning, and…

A comprehensive report on Office of Education programs is provided in this evaluation of the programs for the 1974 fiscal year (FY). This report also updates and extends the FY 1973 report and provides additional information from 1974 program operations and monitoring activities. The status of the evaluation function itself is breifly discussed; a…