Historically, faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) have been involved in the provision of social services, such as drug treatment, job training, community redevelopment, housing, and education. However, FBOs and CBOs have not often participated in U.S. Department of Education (the Department) grant programs. In…

This memorandum examines state higher education funding in South Dakota for fiscal year (FY) 1996, describing five state-funded grant programs approved by the state legislature and funded for FY 1996. These include: (1) the need-based Student Incentive Grant program, which provides up to $600 per year to students attending public institutions in…

This report analyzes the uses of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B discretionary/set-aside, administrative, and flow-through funds for school reform activities. Telephone interviews were held with state directors of special education or staff from nine state education agencies (California, New Mexico, Iowa, Illinois,…

Public "schools of choice" refers to a new trend in educational policy that involves various forms of competition and choice. The initiatives of individual states range from authorizing magnet schools to allowing parents to send children to neighboring school districts. What these programs have in common is that parents, as consumers of…

Authorized by the California Department of Education, this report provides an analysis of research-based guidelines for the educational applications of technology and information resources and the communication and learning opportunities made possible by telecommunications. The report specifically addresses current state-of-the art technologies…

This document contains information about the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's six initiatives and comments from participants at the annual Policy Seminar, sponsored jointly by the department and the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), July 11-13, 1994. The document contains the participants' comments regarding the…

This article reports on a study of a new performance-based test mandate in the state of Arizona. The measurement-driven reform provided an opportunity to examine the interplay of policy and practice, specifically the use of testing to effect educational change. Attempts to reform schools through mandating assessments are categorized as behaviorist…

This study examined the impact of state budget cuts on public colleges and universities in six states, focusing on the effects of such cuts on institutional priorities and plans, tuition and fees, and educational quality. Five state higher education finance officers, 12 state college or university system finance officers, and 98 college or…

This survey sought to identify the status of state policies on Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) required by Public Law 99-457. The survey found that every state plans to develop or review IFSP policies, even the three states who said they had existing policies which they thought might currently meet the Part H requirements on service…

The Manitoba Task Force on Literacy conducted public hearings to determine the root causes of illiteracy in the province and to make recommendations for programs to help adults become literate. The Task Force was especially solicitous of the opinions of learners--illiterate people who are now participating in literacy education programs. Some of…

The California State Commission on Postsecondary Education recommends approval of a request by the Trustees of the California State University to establish a temporary upper-division and graduate off-campus center of San Jose State University in Salinas. Such approval of new or off-campus centers is required by California law. Following a history…

Discussed in this report is the MacArthur/Spencer Special Project on Educational Finance conducted on the campuses of the Illinois State University. This 5-year research effort is designed to conduct research into equity, adequacy, and efficiency aspects of educational finance in Illinois. When possible, conclusions and generalizations are…

The purpose of this paper is to provide information about the current status of available programs, research findings related to quality programs, and issues surrounding programs for 4-year-old children. The paper is intended as a resource for multiple audiences, including decision makers, legislators, regulatory administrators, advocates,…

Children of migrant parents have serious educational deficiencies as a result of the lack of opportunity to attend and complete school. One of the major problems is the students' difficulty in accumulating sufficient credits for promotion and graduation. A survey of state departments of education and of the education committees of state…

This manual is presented to assist local districts in complying with the requirements of the Massachusetts Policy on Basic Skills Improvement, whose principal goal is to help students master basic skills prior to high school graduation. The policy requires schools to evaluate student achievement in the basic skills at least once during the early…