National population trends demonstrate a shift in the U.S. ethnic population, similar to changes in the ethnic landscape of U.S. public schools. However, the teaching landscape has not adjusted to align with student demographics. Research highlights the academic and social/emotional benefit for students of color who experience having a teacher of…

Our complex and rapidly changing world demands a more nimble, responsive, and flexible Extension organization. The findings from a study involving interviews across a state Cooperative Extension Service paint a picture of organizational learning in Extension. Four key dimensions of learning surfaced. Of particular importance are the application of…

As one of only six states receiving a federal Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, Pennsylvania has designed and implemented an innovative program that focuses on improved instruction and interventions to ensure every student is literate and graduates from high school ready for college and a career. This report describes Pennsylvania's…

In the 2006-2007 school year, the State of Wyoming adopted an evidenced-based school funding model. The Wyoming funding model reviewed in this study is considered an evidence-based approach, utilizing expert judgment to determine educational funding. In an evidence-based approach, educational strategies are identified and a dollar figure is…

The authors describe environmental service-learning (SL) programs in Florida high schools and colleges through a statewide program census that explored (a) academic, service, and reflection program features; (b) effects of Furco's SL outcome domains on student outcomes; and (c) program partnerships. The results of the study reveal that secondary…

The purpose of this publication is to help schools develop middle-level programs that reflect the Regents Policy Statement on Middle-Level Education and Schools with Middle-Level Grades. The document contains names and addresses of schools and individuals who are willing to help other schools implement the recommendations of the policy statement.…

The State Capacity Building Program is designed to improve educational practice by encouraging state educational agencies (SEAs) to develop their capacity for gaining access to information resources and to link such information to the needs of educators. This report is a comparative account of the first nine SEAs funded through the NIE program:…

These abstracts were prepared for three purposes: (1) to provide NIE and the states with an indication of NTS's familiarity with specific projects; (2) to provide NIE, the states, and other audiences with programmatically useful information about the State Capacity Building Program; and (3) to support design development for NTS's evaluation study…

This report describes NIE's Dissemination Grants Program, documents dissemination activities in 29 state education agencies as of November 1978, and highlights similarities and differences among states participating in the program. It is primarily descriptive rather than evaluative, and reveals that while each state is committed to building…

Growing emphasis on improving citizenship education at the local school system level is promoting projects which are smaller in size and cost, broader in objectives, and which motivate learning by focusing on local issues. This gradual shift from national curriculum reform programs is a result of the realization that students lack basic knowledge…

Asset development is an emerging approach to promoting self-sufficiency for low-income workers. By promoting and rewarding savings, asset development strategies encourage individuals to set long-term economic goals. Asset development strategies can accomplish the following objectives: (1) give low-income workers the knowledge required to navigate…

The Montana Behavioral Initiative (MBI) is a staff development program created to stem school violence. Program components include summer institutes, site teams, ongoing technical assistance, interagency cooperation, program evaluation, information dissemination, and governance by the MBI council. MBI has expanded to include nearly 100 Montana…

For the past 8 years, Research for Better Schools, Inc. (RBS) has prepared an analysis of state-wide trends in student achievement in the mid-Atlantic states (i.e., Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). For this year, instead of quantitatively examining trends in student achievement scores, RBS decided to…

This paper sets forth a definition and operational description of a developmental program that should be of use as a guide, especially to Virginia's teachers and administrators. Also included in the paper are kindergarten curriculum objectives in the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, art, social studies, family life, health, mental…

Developed during a project to document and analyze the tech prep initiative in Texas, this handbook contains exemplary documents associated with the model programs in the state. This second edition of the handbook organizes documents in sections (sections A, C, D, and G) that correspond to the major impact sectors identified during the research…