Approximately 1.3 million K-12 public school students across the United States were identified as experiencing homelessness in 2019-20. In all cases, the stress, instability, trauma, and school mobility created by homelessness increase risks to physical, social, and emotional health and to educational engagement and achievement. Districts play an…

"Changing the Course of Family Literacy" re-examines the importance and value of family literacy programming and offers several policy recommendations to focus attention on the four-component model used in Even Start. This paper explores the current status of Family literacy and, after gathering information from 47 states, found that 11…

There is growing unease about suspension and expulsion of children at the preschool level. Preschoolers are expelled at three times the rate of K-12 students (Gilliam, 2005). Boys--particularly African-American boys--comprise a disproportionate number of these cases, a fact that has caused concern among parents, policymakers, and advocates alike.…

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to before-school, afterschool, and summer learning programs. Each state education agency receives funds based on its share of Title I funding for low-income students at high-poverty, low performing schools. Funds are also…

One of National PTA's advocacy victories was ensuring that parent engagement requirements were included in The Elementary and Secondary Education/No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA/NCLB). In January 2002, it became the law of the land to hold Title 1 schools and parents jointly accountable for high student achievement. To help these schools…

This report sets out to estimate the total annual expenditures on children in New York City and to create a "fiscal map" to detail them. This fiscal map describes these expenditures according to a series of classifications, including age of child (early childhood, elementary, and high school); source of funding (public, tax-related, and…

The "Colorado Children's Budget" presents and analyzes investments and spending trends during the past five state fiscal years on services that benefit children. The "Children's Budget" focuses mainly on state investment and spending, with some analysis of federal investments and spending to provide broader context of state…

The report presents findings from a study of family-based care for persons with developmental disabilities. The first of four parts introduces the problems of family-based care and presents perspectives of parents and of persons with developmental disabilities. Part 2, on responding to the needs of families, includes a review of historical and…

This document is comprised of two papers providing resources for after-school programs and additional information available from the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP). The first paper, "Organizations in Out-of-School Time: An Introduction," reviews the national, state, and local organizations active in the field of out-of-school time, grouped…

In preparation for reauthorization of Even Start and other Federal education programs, these hearings transcripts recount testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce concerning the Even Start and family literacy programs. Testimony was presented by: (1) the president of the National Center for Family Literacy, giving…

One major obstacle to collaboration is perception of value--especially in urban areas where resources are shrinking and social problems are increasing. Sharing of resources is weighted by considerations of proximal benefit and proximal concern. This article shows how a New Orleans full-services school pilot project successfully garnered funding…

Trends in family support spending and new programmatic initiatives during the 1990s are summarized. Nationally, total spending for family support exceeded $1 billion. Between 1990-2000, family support spending grew from 1.5% to 4% of total resources expended by state mental retardation agencies. Programmatic initiatives include trends toward…

This report to the Minnesota state legislature describes the status of the local children's mental health collaboratives. These mental health collaboratives were established in response to the fragmented service delivery system. Counties, school districts, and local mental health entities became partners with public health, juvenile corrections,…

The purpose of this paper is to indicate how the ambivalent posture of the government toward families has affected federal support of research on the family and studies of the family as educator. After an introductory section providing background information about American public policy, families, and education, the discussion centers on the…

This paper presents results from interviews with 48 New York families of children with severe disabilities or chronic illnesses who were served by Sick Kids (need) Involved People (SKIP) of New York, Incorporated, a case management and advocacy service. The report is divided into sections on the families and their children, daily routine,…