Despite expansions in children's health insurance programs, rates of uninsurance in California continue to be high. Noting that absenteeism due to poor health is associated with school failure and asserting that schools offer an established framework on which to build a coordinated approach to enrolling children in health insurance programs, this…

This book is divided into three sections. In the First Section, entitled "Wellbeing and Workload", the authors examine teacher workload and how teachers spend their time. Chapter 1 focuses on what the causes and effects of excessive workload are, especially in relation to wellbeing, stress and, crucially, recruitment and retention?…

As part of the federal government's war on poverty, Title I of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed to provide financial assistance to local education agencies serving areas with high concentrations of children from low-income families. This digest explores the implementation of Title I from its beginnings as the first and…

As educators and office holders respond to the demands for increased accountability in America's schools by turning to the creation of systems with which to develop, implement, and measure success, they turn away from the importance of relationships. Public schools' student populations are becoming more diverse while their staffs are becoming more…

In November, 2000, several international early childhood organizations and UNESCO met to develop a joint framework for action to reinforce awareness of the need for a flexible, creative, communicative, and supportive learning environment; the impact of a value-based child-friendly learning environment; the importance of surrounding children with…

This brief paper on the inclusion of students with disabilities summarizes the history, terms, and legal requirements. The relevant section of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is cited followed by a brief review of the mainstreaming movement of the 1970s and the regular education initiative in the mid-1980s. Regulations governing…

Noting that childhood lead poisoning is one of the most common preventable pediatric health problems, this report examines lead poisoning as a health problem to which infants and young children are most susceptible and as a housing problem directly related to a shortage of safe, affordable housing. The report details screening rates in Rhode…

This guidebook presents strategic interventions for community change. It is designed to build an understanding of six strategic interventions and create the capacity to deploy them. It helps local education funds (LEF) engage their communities, organize parents and other residents, advocate for sound policy, and work with districts and teachers.…

As part of the ongoing efforts in the state of Alaska to improve the health and well-being of the state's young children, the Alaska Departments of Education and Early Development and Health and Social Services are collaborating to develop a plan to address the critical outcomes and strategies that will support and improve the lives of Alaska's…

Noting the relatively little attention focused on linking child welfare practice with health care, early intervention, and other strategies that could effectively address the risks faced by young children in foster care, this policy paper is intended to challenge communities across the country to attend to the needs of children in or at risk of…

Schools are realizing that carefully collected and analyzed data represent the key to educational improvement. This digest outlines the most useful types of data to drive the school-improvement process, steps that must be taken to collect and analyze data, the role of administrators in guiding the data-driven reform process, and results that can…

The need for curriculum change is based on the recognition that there has been a consolidation of a number of trends that began at least 20 years ago. These trends include: changes in occupational profiles in an increasingly globalized work environment; the need to counteract social inequities and marginalization; the need to recognize diversity…

This collection presents 92 papers or summaries of papers presented at a 2000 conference on self-study and institutional improvement for institutions of higher education. Papers are grouped into these chapters, with some sample topics in parentheses: (1) "Regional and National Initiatives" (associate degrees; adult learning); (2) "Quality…

As part of a series of reports designed to support the implementation of Proposition 10: The California Children and Families Act and to provide comprehensive and authoritative information on critical issues concerning young children and families in California, this report examines home visiting as a service delivery strategy for early…

Calls for changes in California's complex state-run school funding system, provided the backdrop for "Overhauling School Funding in California: The Push for Greater Adequacy, Equity, and Accountability," the EdSource 27th Annual Forum in March 2004. Participants discussed approaches for determining what would constitute adequate funding,…