This paper focuses on pre-kindergarten programs, defined by four characteristics: the programs are supported by state funds, focused on early learning for school success or school readiness, aimed at children of pre-kindergarten age (under 5 years, usually 3 to 4 years), and designed to deliver group learning experiences at least several days a…

About 1.5 million uninsured children in California are eligible for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, the state's primary public health insurance programs for children. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides a natural entry point for reaching these eligible families. This briefing report was written for WIC…

This briefing packet contains data on the school and district accountability results for Kentucky's state assessment system, the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System, for 1994-1995 through its last use in 1997-1998. The first section contains state and regional accountability indices by grade level, with number of students tested and…

In operation since 1988, the Michigan School Readiness Program (MSRP) provides high-quality preschool programs for children who may be at risk of becoming educationally disadvantaged and who may have needs for special assistance. This manual provides guidelines for implementing all aspects of the program, including applying for funding, recruiting…

Beginning in 1994, the Ohio SchoolNet Program has worked to place computers in the Ohio Public Schools, and the SchoolNet Plus Initiative has provided at least one interactive computer workstation for every five children enrolled in grades K-4. This study examined (1) whether there were any relationships among teacher computer access, student…

Noting that one of the major educational policy shifts in recent years has been the establishment of state-funded prekindergarten programs, this report details a study examining how five states (Georgia, Illinois, New York, South Carolina, and Texas) managed this educational policy shift, identified the major facilitators and major barriers, and…

This report summarizes the eighth survey of state directors of special education by the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota. Results include all 50 states and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, American Samoa, and Palau. State directors report increased participation rates of students with disabilities in state…

This booklet contains released test items from the spring 2000 administration of the eighth grade mathematics and science tests of the Colorado Student Assessment Program. Items are released with the correct answers, and the scoring guide is included for selections from the constructed response portion of the science test. (SLD)

This report presents findings from a national survey on emerging credentialing programs for school-age care (SAC) providers. About half of the states report that a credential is already available, is being piloted, or is being planned. About one-third of the states do not have a credential, nor is one being planned. Common characteristics of the…

This guide provides information about the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) and Texas end-of-course examinations. It displays and explains examples of the TAAS and end-of-course standard and optional reports to assist school personnel in understanding and interpreting student performance data as required by the Texas Education Code. The…

A systematic analysis of student assessment data from Maine and Kentucky, using National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data and state and local assessment results, was conducted to address issues of measurement and attribution involved in evaluating systemic school reform. This paper (1) examines ways to cope with the challenges of…

Recent reports of high levels of achievement on the Regents examinations in New York state and relatively poor showing on the eighth grade examinations have led many to speculate that the eighth grade examinations lack good predictive properties with respect to the Regents examinations. There are many problems with arriving at such a conclusion,…

The Texas Education Code required the commissioner of education to conduct a study to determine the need to expand the assessment system to include the assessment in grades 7 and 8 of limited English proficient (LEP) students whose primary language is Spanish and other students of limited English proficiency. This report presents the research…

This document contains 51 poems, essays, and short stories that were authored by adult student writers throughout Ohio. The works were selected from 130 pieces of writing submitted by the students of 51 adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) teachers who encouraged their submission for presentation at the first Ohio Literacy Resource…

This study explored questions about whether there is a positive or negative relationship between student computer use and achievement, and whether the result vary by the amount of school or home computer use. Findings from the Idaho Statewide Testing Program for 31,000 students from more than 300 schools show that in general there is an inverse…