A study was conducted of the use of outcome measurement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and states to determine whether JOBS (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills) program participants are finding employment and leaving welfare. In order to assess the progress that HHS has made in establishing outcome indicators and goals,…

The federal government's key summer nutrition programs for low-income children are the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the SFSP is an entitlement program funding public and private non-profit organizations to serve nutritious meals…

This report focuses on secondary schools and a variety of youth projects in eight countries--Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Norway, United Kingdom--so as to provide a better understanding of what motivates youth to learn. The text is based on reports prepared by experts appointed by each participating country, in addition to…

This directory contains brief descriptions and contact information for organizations, agencies, and publications related to rural education. Mindful of the wide variety of issues impacting rural schools and related information needs, the directory includes national associations, research and training centers, health organizations, publishers,…

Project CLASS (Chinese Language Achievement through Sequential Study), a federally-funded program, introduced the study of Chinese language and culture at Queen Ka'ahumanu Elementary School (Hawaii), forming the foundation of an instructional program to be continued through middle and high school, to meet state foreign language standards. It was…

This evaluation of Vermont's 5-year LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) plan begins with an overall report of results in achieving goals and objectives. This section offers an overview of Vermont's geography, population, and history and use of library services. Results are then described for each of the plan's seven goals and related…

This publication describes the 62 projects that received 5-year Technology Innovation Challenge Grants beginning in 1995, 1996, and 1997, with reviews of the projects occurring in late 1999 and early 2000. Part 1 of the report describes the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant (TICG) program and its importance. Part 2 contains the project…

This mandated report to Congress describes the background and purposes of a national study of Head Start impact, the progress of the study, current activities to conduct a field test and prepare for the main study, and the projected timeline for study completion. The report notes that in 2000, a contract was awarded to determine on a national…

The federal Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) program provides incentives for high-poverty schools to pursue reform. In fiscal years 1998-99, $120 million, or 83 percent of total CSRD funds, was made available to states to target Title I schools serving disadvantaged students. Of the 1,748 schools participating in CSRD, over 85…

This paper has two main purposes: (1) to test the central thesis of systemic reform; and (2) to derive lessons about strengths and weaknesses of reform strategies used in policy and practice. It does this by a secondary analysis of case studies of nine Statewide Systemic Initiatives (SSIs) funded by the National Science Foundation. The case…

Data from the 1997 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) are analyzed to estimate the number and composition of children lacking health insurance prior to the implementation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The NSAF is a survey of children and adults under the age of 65 in more than 44,000 households, conducted as…

This issue brief presents data illustrating the diversity across federal agency support in the science and engineering fields as emphasized in their funding of both academic research and science and engineering graduate students. Funding data show that changes in the balance of academic research funding across agencies are likely to affect both…

This report presents the results of the Follow-up Public School Survey on Education Reform, which examined the implementation of the key provisions in the reauthorized Title I Act. The survey is one of many national assessments of Title I and was adapted from the Public School Survey on Education Reform. The instrument was administered to a…

Expanding upon ideas presented in the report, "Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader," this collection highlights projects, proposals, and programs that help all children become good readers. Chapter 1 describes 18 federal initiatives and programs; and chapter 2 presents excerpts from 16 State of the State addresses…

Noting the importance of good nutrition to out-of-school time programs serving children, this strategy brief provides an overview of the major sources of federal food and nutrition funds that can support out-of-school time and community school programs. The brief then highlights five strategies that community leaders and program developers can…