This report provides an overview of the federal stimulus--also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)--and where California stands in relation to the requirements. It also looks at the thinking behind the four reform areas (teacher and administrator effectiveness; data systems; standards; and turning around low-performing…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics project that more than half of all new jobs through 2014 will require at least some college experience. Yet scores on the 2008 ACT[C] national college admission and placement exam suggest that only 22 percent of high school students are likely to succeed in first-year, credit-bearing college courses. Outdated high…

As the United Kingdom enters its most serious recession for decades, the main policy focus has been on measures that can contain the situation. This paper presents a call to look ahead--beyond the immediate piecemeal measures--proposing more comprehensive labour market reforms that aim to protect and develop the UK skills base. It presents…

This document contains remarks delivered by the Secretary of Education who spoke at the 2009 Governors Education Symposium. Secretary Duncan spoke about uses of Recovery Act funding to drive reform in four core areas of education: (1) Robust data systems that track student achievement and teacher effectiveness; (2) Teacher and principal quality;…

The middle grades are in crisis. By state and national measures, student achievement gains realized in the elementary grades all too often diminish by grade 8. In most states, the considerable policy focus on high schools in recent years has not trickled down to a focus on the middle grades--yet preparation for "college- and work-ready standards"…

The most important natural resource Texas has is Texans. Unfortunately, the state suffers from a "brain drain" as many of the best and brightest students leave to further their education. A contributing cause is a lack of "tier one" universities in Texas. Proposition 4 (a constitutional amendment to create a National Research…

By now people are all too familiar with the disheartening numbers: approximately 7,000 students drop out each day, which means nearly one-third of high school students will not graduate with their peers. The statistics are even more staggering for minority and low-income students, especially in the nation's largest urban districts, where less than…

Advanced Placement (AP), which enables high school students to take introductory college-level courses, is the nation's oldest example of a rigorous, common curriculum. Students who score well on AP exams are more likely to persist in college and earn a degree. The Advanced Placement Expansion project of the National Governors Association Center…

If state leaders invest resources and energy wisely, they don't have to choose between excellence and equity. They can improve overall teacher quality and remedy the shameful inequities in access to the single most valuable resource in education--effective teachers. This paper outlines ten steps state policymakers and school district leaders can…

In this statement, Katherine M. Iritani, Acting Director, Health Care reports that dental disease remains a significant problem for children in Medicaid. Although dental services are a mandatory benefit for the 30 million children served by Medicaid, these children often experience elevated levels of dental problems and have difficulty finding…

With the opening of Elko Community College, Nevada became the last state to join the junior college movement. (MS)

Unfortunately, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are not immune to the economic slowdown sweeping the nation. States are taking action to bring budgets into balance while working to protect essential services and programs. In a 1991 report, "Coping With the Sluggish Economy," SREB noted the accelerated efforts to reshape schools and…

This document is the text of a Congressional hearing on the plight of missing children. Chairman Paula Hawkins' opening remarks discuss the provisions of the Missing Children Act of 1982 and its success, the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1984 authorizing the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the continuing need to…

The publication is based on the "Adult Readiness Roundtable" Project co-sponsored by CAAL and the National Center on Education and the Economy on April 6-7, 2009. It is not a transcript of the Roundtable discussion; instead it reports on a two-day discussion meeting among a group of exemplary adult-education-for-work programs from around the…

This report presents survey results of the 10 State Actions including status of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These State Actions include: (1) Link P-20/workforce data systems; (2) Create stable, sustained support for robust state longitudinal data systems; (3) Develop governance structures to guide data collection,…