"Part C Updates" is a compilation of information on various aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is the eleventh volume in a series of compilations, which included two editions of Part H Updates, the former name of the…

Low student learning is a common finding in much of the developing world. This paper uses a relatively unique dataset of five semiannual rounds of standardized test data to characterize and explain the short-term changes in student learning. The data are collected as part of the quality assurance system for a public-private partnership program…

Charter schools offer choice to parents who would otherwise be constrained to having their children attend a residentially assigned traditional public school. The number of charter schools has increased steadily in the last decade, reflecting their popularity with parents and the general public. They vary substantially in their missions, the…

Universities in Latin America and in the Caribbean (LAC), and throughout the world, are facing one of the most challenging eras in their history. Globalization presents many important opportunities for higher education, but also poses serious problems and raises questions about how best to serve the common good. The traditional values of…

In the 2008-2009 school year, about 2,000 for-profit schools received almost $24 billion in grants and loans provided to students under federal student aid programs. In the early 1990s, Congress was concerned that some for-profit schools receiving federal student aid were recruiting students who were not ready for higher education. Many of these…

Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) is an innovative program and strategy developed by the Washington (WA) State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) in conjunction with the state's 29 community colleges and five technical colleges. Its goal is to increase the rate at which adult basic education and…

2010 marks the 50th anniversary of California's famed Master Plan for Higher Education, arguably the single most influential effort to plan the future of a system of higher education in the annals of American higher education. This essay builds on the analysis offered in a previous CSHE research paper ("From Chaos to Order and Back") by…

This study seeks to inform the debate over a proposal in Maryland to give tax credits to businesses for contributions to organizations that provide scholarships to K-12 private schools or which contribute to innovative educational programs in the public schools. The study constructs a model to determine the fiscal impact of a tax-credit…

For many children in America, summer vacation means camp, trips to new or familiar destinations, visits to museums, parks and libraries, and a variety of enriching activities--either with families or as part of a summer learning program. But for millions of others, when schools close for the summer, safe and enriching learning environments are out…

As 2010 unfolds, Americans should feel encouraged by federal, state, and local efforts to transform education policies that boost student performance. In the midst of a recession, rather than merely allocating billions of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars by formula to the states with no strings attached, the Obama…

This book was written for teachers and administrators who are developing new sources of funding for school and districtwide projects. It offers practical information on seeking private funding and writing successful grant proposals. Five chapters offer step-by-step strategies for the following processes--planning a proposal, developing funding…

Endowment funds, created from private donations, have recently become a new funding source for public schools. Once endowed, these funds provide schools with extra monies that earn interest until they are needed. This publication describes how to start, develop, and profit from public school endowment funds. Initial considerations in setting up an…

In today's political, economic, and ecologically-sensitive climate a university's or college's indiscriminate acceptance of gifts can have catastrophic consequences. Some donations of cash or even real property can bring with them legal and political, as well as ethical and philosophical complications that can cost the institution considerable…

In June 1991, the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs invited 320 state policymakers, leaders of national and state advocacy organizations, and practitioners to a technical assistance forum on "Finding and Funding Quality Child Care and Head Start Services for Infants and Toddlers." The forum focused on essential practices in…

This report summarizes evidence of a decline in government financial aid to students attending independent colleges and universities that have made contributions to the state by providing the state economy with competent professionals, and by offering educational opportunity to members of ethnic minorities. However, a state policy commitment to…