The momentum behind building high-quality data systems to harvest better information about student, school and district performance has never been stronger. To meet the goal of improving student achievement, policymakers and educators need longitudinal data systems capable of providing timely, valid and relevant data. Although…

A fundamental concern with competitive health insurance markets is that they will not supply efficient levels of coverage for treatment of costly, chronic, and predictable illnesses, such as mental illness. Since the inception of employer-based health insurance, coverage for mental health services has been offered on a more limited basis than…

This article talks about a pioneering federal preschool program, launched during the War on Poverty that faces reauthorization amid competition from state programs and perennial debates about its efficacy. The nutritional, social, and educational needs of disadvantaged children--combined with opportunities for parents to be involved--have been…

This report summarizes discussions from two round-table seminars exploring federal programs that affect children and families. Ideas presented in this report are organized around five topics: (1) symptoms of fragmented federal programs for children and families; (2) why coordinated services for children and families are so rare; (3) what Congress…

The handbook is intended to assist evaluators working with preschool model demonstration projects funded by the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP). Background on HCEEP is provided, and the function of evaluation within the network is emphasized. A section on planning evaluations deals with such aspects as focusing, planning…

Beginning with an overview of problems springing from lack of coordination of federal, state, and local educational programs, this paper examines the current and proposed coordination of such programs across the nation and in New York State and New York City. It defines and makes a case for comprehensive school planning as a planning process…

This monograph, summarizing the ideas of participants attending a two-day mini-conference, was developed to help educators to appreciate and recognize the valuable contributions that 4-H has made to career education and its potential for greater involvement in career education. The content is divided into four topic areas. First, the nature and…

Four key topics in the implementation of Title II legislation are reviewed: (1) the Congressional intent of the Basic Skills Improvement Program (BSIP) and its two major focuses--demonstration and coordination; (2) what is meant by "basic skills"; (3) expected outcomes for the BSIP; and (4) standards for demonstration projects. Congress…

Presented are the results of a review and evaluation of the energy curriculum materials produced by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Major findings of the project were: (1) DOE materials are receiving only limited use because of low teacher awareness of availability; (2) when materials are used, teachers evaluate materials favorably;…

This paper comprises analysis and design components of a program of studies to assess the impact of the federally funded program of research and development centers in education. Opening with an introduction and comments on design considerations, the paper analyzes four systems that taken together, with their mutual interfaces, describe the domain…

This directory provides information on supportive and rehabilitative programs for people with disabilities, especially hearing impairments. Federal programs are listed by federal office and region. State vocational and rehabilitation offices are listed by state. Regional and local programs are also listed by state, with codes summarizing services…

A study was conducted to analyze effective mechanisms for facilitating coordination of vocational education programs with programs conducted by prime sponsors under the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act of 1977. The project goal was to identify, describe and analyze such mechanisms and to disseminate the results to a nationwide…

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine the relative impact school culture has on student achievement (specifically AYP status, dropout rates and graduation rates) in select urban and suburban Georgia high schools. To examine this relationship, the researcher reviewed data collected from the School Culture Survey (SCS)…

This article presents important highlights in the development of early care and education in the United States from 1911 to 2005. It was in 1911 when the United States Children's Bureau was created and in 1932 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) paid for nursery schools as a way of providing employment for unemployed teachers. In 2000-2005,…

This study documents the reliability and validity of a new infant-toddler authentic assessment, the Learning Through Relating Child Assets Record (LTR-CAR), and its feasibility of use by infant-toddler caregivers in an Early Head Start program. In a sample of 136 children, results indicated a strong internal structure of the LTR-CAR as evidenced…