This report examines the critical role that child care plays in the way an increasing number of children are growing, learning, and preparing for school and for life. Chapter one of the report examines the current child care situation in the United States and recommends that the nation: (1) set priorities for the child care system; (2) assist low…

High school graduates who do not go on to higher education ("the forgotten half") can no longer expect to obtain steady employment at wages that can support a family. Their ability to compete for well-paying jobs is hampered by a lack of skilled training. In contrast, the labor market in the United States 50 years ago relied heavily on…

Results of a process evaluation of dropout prevention programs in the Leon County (Florida) school district during the school year 1989-90 are presented. Altogether, 11 dropout programs were operationalized in that school year. The methodology used for developing a problem survey among teachers and administrators, the results of the evaluation,…

State and county initiatives in California have sparked a movement for integration of social services. The practical lessons learned by communities integrating services for children and families were studied and are presented in this report. The study draws on the experiences of seven California communities (Fresno County, Los Angeles County,…

Three basic concepts help to describe the author's experience as a school board member whose "real" job is working in the English Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a part of the academic staff: (1) personnel matters; (2) matters of budget; and (3) university/K-12 collaboration. When school boards decide that the K-12…

This manual is written for state and local administrators and statewide child care and child health organizations looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their child care regulatory review, rule-making process, and enforcement system. Data collection procedures and a review team process, state administrators can identify…

This ERIC Digest reports on the outcomes of a conference of teachers, college history professors, teacher educators, and state and local school board members. The theme of the meeting was that if, according to the standards-based strategy for democratic school reform, all students in every school are to be offered an equally solid and engaging…

In September 1996, the Missouri Commissioner of Education appointed a statewide task force on the Achievement of African-American Students. The findings of the state-level task force, the views of Missouri students, and the experience of successful educators all support the conclusion that the single most important nontangible element required to…

Throughout 1998, the National Education Goals Panel conducted interviews with policymakers in the states that have made top improvement and performance on indicators of progress toward the national education goals. State officials told the story behind the data and what they consider to be the reasons for their success. Their stories are intended…

The Pennsylvania Action Research Network project was initiated in 1995-1996 to provide Pennsylvania literacy educators with the following: a better method for taking published research findings and testing and adapting them in their own classrooms; a way to study their own research ideas on a daily-action basis; and a systematic way to share and…

The aim of this paper is to outline the lessons learned in helping academics at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland) to bridge the skills gap for their future teaching and learning. The University has recently implemented an initiative to promote good practice in the development and use of new learning technologies to enhance teaching and…

The 10 chapters in this book provide an overview of 5 years of work by member schools and colleges in the Urban Schools Network, which provides technical assistance to schools in 31 urban areas. "Overview of the Urban Schools Network" (Lola Jackson) is a history, defining purposes, participants, and priorities. "Integrating Academic…

Chapter 188 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1985 established a statewide testing program that began in 1986. The Massachusetts Testing Program functions to improve curriculum and instruction in the public schools and districts, identify students needing assistance in mastering basic skills in the classroom, and make results available to the public.…

This monograph documents major events in the Cincinnati (Ohio) School District (CSD) in 1990-91 concerning the Bronson Settlement, which was the result of a racial segregation suit against the CSD (Mona Bronson, et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Cincinnati). The Bronson Settlement ordered changes in nine areas of the CSD. This report…

This report examines the philosophy, policies, programs, methodologies, services, and organizational structures that relate to the education of students between 4 and 9 years of age. Sections of the report address: (1) the relation between development and learning; (2) school readiness; (3) early learning programs; and (4) partnerships among…