The Race to the Top Assessment program was authorized as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In September 2010, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) awarded competitive, four-year grants to two consortia of states, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and the Smarter…

Supporting parental-involvement research findings, Congress in 1995 appropriated $10 million to fund 28 parent information and resource centers in 27 states and Washington, D.C. In 1999, 58 more were funded. Centers communicate personably with parents via newsletters, referral networks, websites, cable TV, and toll-free numbers. (MLH)

In recognizing the importance of energy conservation to education, the U.S. Office of Environmental Education produced an Instructional Resource Package on environment and energy. In addition to the interdisciplinary packets, fact sheets on energy technologies were developed. Outreach programs were designed to inform teachers about the…

This paper describes one component of the Study of Dissemination Efforts Supporting School Improvement, which focused on the role that external facilitators play in helping schools implement new educational practices. The first part describes the external facilitator sample (95 respondents) and delineates the major formal role groups of external…

As a condition of receiving federal funding for elementary and secondary education programs, states each year provide vast amounts of data to Education. While the need for information that informs evaluation is important (particularly with the No Child Left Behind Act), Education's data gathering has heretofore presented some problems. It has been…

Describes the Star Schools program, a federally funded project designed to serve as a model for using technology to reach small or disadvantaged schools in isolated areas. The discussion covers the objectives of the project, the use of telecommunications technology and computer networks, and the current and future role of library media specialists…

Intended primarily for state and local health and education staff, the guide considers using the school setting as one resource in the Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. Chapter I introduces the EPSDT program and describes its services to Medicaid eligible children. The chapter also sets forth school health goals as…

This guide is intended to help schools develop linkages with the federal Medicaid program, particularly the Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, a comprehensive and preventive health care system for Medicaid-eligible individuals up to age 21. The guide aims to: (1) acquaint schools with State Medicaid agencies…

A telephone survey of 26 principals on their use of Chapter 1 funds for family and community involvement activities found several barriers, including restrictions, lack of information and adequate funds, and fear of change. However, schoolwide planning, new legal flexibility, and district support can make Chapter 1 funds more useful. (JB)

Outlines origins and outreach efforts of the federal National Resource Centers (NRCs) for Foreign Language and Area Studies, and describes the University of New Mexico's Latin American Institute. Activities include outreach to elementary/secondary schools, outreach with federal/state/local agencies, information services to…

The concept of the school as community encompasses two distinct relationships: the school/extended community and the internal school community. As social needs and conditions change, so does the school role in the community. Topics covered in this book include benefits of collaboration between the external community and the school, the creation of…