A quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) is a voluntary state assessment system that uses multidimensional data on early childhood education programs to rate program quality, support quality improvement efforts, and provide information to families about the quality of available early childhood education programs. QRISs have two components:…

Training and technical assistance programs for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have emerged in many states as educators, administrators, and institutions of higher education attempt to address the increasing needs for enhancing the knowledge and skills of educators and disseminating the ever-growing knowledge of educational practices. This report…

Title VII provides funding for the education of American Indian/Alaska Native students based on a formula grant available to school districts, charter schools, and local education agencies (LEAs). This report explores why some eligible schools and districts do not apply for federal Title VII, potentially resulting in American Indian/Alaska Native…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Another Positive Step for ESEA Reauthorization: Testifying Before Congress, Duncan Calls for Reauthorization in 2010,…

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…

In spring 2009, the Center on Education Policy (CEP) continued its research on the impact of test-based federal and state accountability policies by conducting case studies of six high schools in six different districts within Washington State. The purpose was to learn more about the curricular and instructional changes that administrators and…

This Critical Issue Bibliography (CRIB) sheet focuses on performance indicators in higher education. Performance indicators are concrete pieces of information about a condition or result of public action that is regularly produced, publicly reported, and systematically used for planning, monitoring, or resource allocation. The resources in this…

A study examined the costs and benefits of Indiana adult basic education (ABE). Designers of the study sought to identify those programs that are cost effective/cost efficient and to establish a viable ABE local program accountability system. Included among the major study activities were the following: formation of a steering committee, site…

Formal program evaluation activities in special education have focused primarily on process indicators such as compliance while neglecting product indicators such as student outcomes. While efforts are underway to provide technical assistance to state and local educational agencies to expand the focus of evaluation activities, there is a need to…

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:…

A state system of about 20 demonstration centers was developed in Illinois to exhibit a variety of model programs for gifted children, ranging from kindergarten to high school. Subjects ranged from foreign language to dance and dramatics. Evaluation indicated low quality in too many centers. The centers performed best on the awareness function,…

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 examines efforts in Idaho to provide transition information and planning to secondary students with disabilities and their families. It offers an ideal profile of best transition practices. It then reports on a survey of 247 teachers, 170 principals, and 105 special education directors/superintendents in Idaho. The survey examined: (1)…

Questionnaires were completed by 691 public school personnel visiting demonstration centers operated by the Illinois gifted program in over 20 school districts. Data indicated that the centers, intended to illustrate innovative educational techniques, were generating a good view and acceptance of the overall nature of their programs, but were not…

In March and April of 1992, 60 representatives of state-funded workplace education programs in New York attended day-long regional workshops to identify ways of improving program planning and evaluation methods. After the workshops, the participants returned to their home programs, organized local evaluation teams, and developed action plans to…