This report summarizes the results of the school year (SY) 2008-2009 review of applications approved for free or reduced-price benefits under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) selected nearly 279,000 applications for verification review from among 8.6 million applications approved for…

The content of this edition of the State Governance Action Report was informed by newspaper reports, online reports, state and institutional Web sites, and conversations with state and higher education leaders. It is current through February 1, 2011. Much of this legislative activity comes at a time when the fiscal conditions of states are…

The Obama administration has offered states the chance to waive some requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. States are required, however, to make specific reforms in exchange for increased flexibility. The administration has been clear it wants states to engage in "ambitious but achievable" reforms rather than merely asking for a pass from…

Although the federal government dedicated nearly $40 billion to funding student loans in 2006, only 60 percent of potential students from low-income families attend college, compared with 90 percent from high-income families. This paper argues that enrollment rates are lower than they could be because potential students undervalue loan subsidies,…

The authors share a successful Fulbright Group Projects Abroad grant award. The purpose of the grant was to enhance American educators' experience and knowledge of South Africa, in particular, and sub-Saharan Africa more generally. Toward that end, participants experienced a multifaceted view of South Africa's geographical diversity, both physical…

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…

Following an introduction by Betty J. Turock, nine reports examine key issues in library evaluation: (1) "Output Measures and the Evaluation Process" (Nancy A. Van House) describes measurement as a concept to be understood in the larger context of planning and evaluation; (2) "Adapting Output Measures to Program Evaluation"…

Fourteen appendices are gathered in this companion volume to a report summarizing the second year of a 3-year evaluation project focusing on three Utah programs funded under Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The appendices all relate to one of the three programs, Title IV-Part C (IV-C), which allocates funds for the adoption…

The Arkansas Advanced Placement Incentive Program served as a charter for the establishment, organization, and administration of a program designed to improve the course offerings available to high school students. The act provided three incentives: (1) one-time equipment/materials grants; (2) teacher professional development reimbursements; and…

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 made funds available to local education agencies (LEAs) to meet the educational needs of educationally deprived children. In 1981, Title I was superseded by Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act. Five volumes--a final report and four management modules--were the…

Section 309 of the Adult Education Act of 1966 provided discretionary grants for special projects and teacher training in adult basic education (ABE). The 309 program played an important role in innovations, recruitment, instructional materials, and teaching strategies, and it demonstrated how active Federal officials could boost state and local…

The implementation of a legislative mandate to promote innovation in postsecondary education through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) is analyzed. Attention is directed to how this highly discretionary program successfully translated policy goals into grants practices. The values of two implementation strategies…

This volume contains the "Final Report" of a study commissioned to document how States met the requirements of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended in 1978, and to identify management practices and documents that can be used by States to facilitate their management of Title I programs and those of…

Summarizing the second year of a 3-year evaluation project, this nine-chapter report focuses on three Utah programs under Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The first program, Title IV-Part B (IV-B), provides funds for local education agency (LEA) purchases of educational materials and equipment; the second, Title IV-Part C…