The need for valid and reliable ways to assess developmental outcomes of preschool children becomes continually more acute as public investments in preschool education grow, with corresponding pressure for programs to demonstrate their ability to influence child outcomes. The authors conducted studies of one assessment widely used in Head Start…

U.S. educators and policymakers are concerned about the poor performance of the public schools, particularly schools that serve students from low-income families. Although education is primarily a state function, the federal government also has a longstanding interest in improving education for disadvantaged students, and it targets funding to…

Following an executive summary and introduction, the report is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 presents evidence of hunger in Texas, which is revealed to be a growing problem. Statistics on the number of persons living in poverty, unemployed persons not receiving unemployment insurance benefits, and persons seeking food assistance from both…

This document contains the transcripts of testimony and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to gather information on Michigan's Older Americans Act programs. Following the opening statement of Representative Albosta, briefly summarizing the objectives of the Act, the prepared statement of Representative Hertel is given.…

This article summarizes trends indicating a shift from institutional services to services in small community settings, an operational transformation from state government being the provider of services to being the purchaser, a shift from state financing of community services to federal-state cost-sharing, and an increase in people receiving…

In response to proposed reforms designed to replace many federal child welfare programs with block grants to states, this report describes a study of recent trends foster care, resources for foster care and child welfare services, and state responses to current foster care and child welfare service needs. The study reviewed research on foster care…

A survey of state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policies toward postsecondary training or education (PSE) shows that at least 40 states allow more access to PSE than would be countable under the House-passed reauthorization bill (H.R.4737). If it were enacted, these states would likely have to change their policies to reduce…

The state-of-the-art review of delivery of social services to American Indians living on reservations demonstrates that the basic problem is not whether Indians living on reservations are entitled to receive such services, but which government entity will be financially responsible. Chapters cover: (1) legal status of Indians (roots of conflict);…

This report provides a national overview of programs and practices relating to vocational education opportunities for older persons as reflected in current literature, a review of state plans, and a survey of state programmatic efforts. In addition to providing a basis for further project development efforts, the report is intended as a resource…

Information on 41 state government training and development programs was gathered from a survey sent to training directors in all state governments. This digest summarizes the response of each state training director to the survey. Each state summary contains information on the four major topical areas addressed in the survey and is designed to…

This volume analyzes government policies for helping students pay for education beyond high school and was developed as a result of an October 1994 gathering of policymakers, analysts, and practitioners convened to review federal student assistance and to consider policy alternatives for the Clinton Administration. Chapter 1, "A Fifty-Year…

President Bush's comprehensive education plan includes major initiatives in areas ranging from accountability to school safety. While breaking new ground in some areas, Bush's plan accelerates the progress states have made in improving quality, performance, and flexibility in public education. This status report reviews the progress of states in…