This document contains 51 poems, essays, and short stories that were authored by adult student writers throughout Ohio. The works were selected from 130 pieces of writing submitted by the students of 51 adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) teachers who encouraged their submission for presentation at the first Ohio Literacy Resource…

This report contains information about the condition of education in California in 2002. It contains demographic information about students at California institutions, enrollment estimates for the rest of the decade, admissions requirements, tuition and fees, financial aid, teaching credentials, and degrees awarded. The report also contains…

This report describes key policy decisions that have shaped the New Jersey system of higher education during the past third of a century. The study was part of a larger study that aimed at understanding the linkages between policy decisions and higher education performance through comparative case studies of two states in the United States and two…

Researchers have long investigated whether smaller classes improve student achievement. Their conclusions suggest that class size reduction (CSR) can result in greater in-depth coverage of subject matter by teachers, enhanced learning and stronger engagement by students, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and safer schools with fewer…

This document analyzes the Virginia Community College population participation rates in the Fall 2002. The population estimates are based on the U.S. census Bureau 2000 counts and average annual change rates. The participation rate equals headcount as a percentage of population. The results of the study are divided into the following five…

This issue of "Network News" takes a look at emerging P-16/K-16 partnerships and data systems. The first article, "P-16 Data and Accountability Systems," by Hans L'Orange and Rick Voorhees (an adaptation of a policy brief) looks at data being used for accountability within P-16 systems and provides some general characteristics…

This staff report updates the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' previous assessment of percentage plans in California, Florida, and Texas and examines the pattern of racial/ethnic diversity among first-time students and graduate, law, and medical students. Staff of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights analyzed college application, admission, and…

This report addresses issues on the use of accommodations, modifications, or alternatives for students with disabilities in large-scale educational assessment programs. First, a set of definitions from current literature and the 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are offered. The importance of agreement between instructional and…

This study examined the relationship between instructional and assessment accommodations for students with and without disabilities participating in the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS). The study evaluated the educational records of 78 students with disabilities and 51 students from the general population. Results are…

This study attempted to track students (n=2,077) who entered the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus) in 1986 but had not completed a degree at that institution within eight years of matriculation. The study utilized the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office's statewide database which allowed researchers to determine if, when, and…

Child care has become a central issue to most Californians and is increasingly important to policymakers. The Little Hoover Commission examined child care in California, focusing on the long-standing competition between the quantity of services available and the quality of services provided. Information was obtained from an advisory committee of…

This report provides an overview of the federally funded State Improvement Grants (SIGs). Information was obtained from the 17 individual state profiles compiled for the Regional Resource Center Network SIG Report. Results of the analysis found: (1) 18 states were awarded SIGs in 1999 and the average SIG award was $1,002,949; (2) recruitment and…

This paper discusses several issues considered as part of a statewide mentoring initiative. It is divided into three sections. The first section summarizes the key issues associated with short-term mentoring and mentoring in a longer-term, socially transformative context. Data from Comprehensive School Alienation Program is discussed concerning…

The dependency of public institutions of higher education on state tax dollars is a major source of financial instability as other state agencies demand more tax dollars for other purposes. This paper presents a new formula for higher education funding and discusses the rationale and implications of implementing the new solution, which will allow…

In the past 5 years, each state in the Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE) region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina) developed virtual libraries that provide citizens access to licensed databases. This guide describes each state's offerings including the methods of access, resources, and…