State need-based financial aid programs are a key driver of college access and completion for lower-income students and racially marginalized students in California, most of whom attend public two- and four-year colleges and universities and come from families with annual incomes of less than $40,000. As the state's largest need-based financial…

The "Supportive Housing for Homeless Families: Foster Care Outcomes and Best Practices" report describes the outcome evaluation of Cottage Housing Incorporated's Serna Village program in Sacramento, California. Serna Village is a supportive housing program serving homeless families. Outcomes from the program illustrate that it is…

As the only federal funding stream that provides dedicated funds for afterschool programs across the country, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative plays an important role in supporting the innovation that takes place in afterschool programs. Social innovation has been defined as "a novel solution to a social…

Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

These "Stories From the Field" describe five Wallace-funded programs working to expand learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children, so they can benefit from the types of opportunities their wealthier counterparts have access to, from homework help to swimming classes. The report details each program's approach, successes and…

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in financial incentives to encourage students to attend school and to improve their academic achievement, graduation rates, and other outcomes. Conditional cash transfer programs in developing countries, especially PROGRESA in Mexico, have found positive effects on attendance in large-scale…

THE INTERIM REPORT OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF ACTIVITIES BEING CARRIED ON IN THE OAKLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS PRESENTED. TWO AREAS WERE CONSIDERED--CONDENSATIONS OF COMPLETE STUDIES, AND PROGRESS REPORTS ON ONGOING RESEARCH. THE ACTIVITIES COVERED WERE THE CENTRAL RESEARCH OPERATIONS (SURVEYS AND LIBRARY SERVICES), KINDERGARTEN LANGUAGE AWARENESS…

The purpose of the COPES subsystem is the improvement of the quality and availability of occupational education for the disadvantaged student who attends a California community college. The subsystem facilitates achievement of its purpose by: (1) providing easily administered procedures for studying aspects of occupational education related to the…

The report presents the historical development of legislation designed to redirect the goals of the California employment service. The report focuses on Job Agents, a unique class of civil servants created by legislation in 1968. The general characteristics, attitudes, expectations and morale of Job Agents are described. Job Agents are compared to…

This is a report of an action-research study, designed to determine the effect of exposure to cultural, social, and economic diversity on selected attitudes of elementary school teachers. The research developed two thrusts. One was to investigate the effects of exposure to the usual classroom situation on teacher tolerance and teacher optimism.…

This report records the accomplishments of single parent/homemaker vocational education programs in California, mandated by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. These programs assist single parents/homemakers in their progress from poverty and public assistance toward personal empowerment and economic self-sufficiency. The report…

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is California's major source of funds for compensatory education programs designed to enhance the educational attainment of children from poverty backgrounds. The annual state evaluation report provides information on the distribution of Title I funds, the number of students served, and…

This report covers the second year of work by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education in assisting states to increase their ability to evaluate programs and services for special populations. The report also provides information on changes that have occurred in the total evaluation system of the participating states since the start…

A plan for California's postsecondary equal educational opportunity programs is presented. These programs are designed to: increase academic aspirations and preparation of high school or community college students; inform students about financial aid or about specific colleges; increase college students' academic skills to increase their…

This handbook was produced by the California Vocational Education Resource System (VERS) to assist administrators in planning, implementing, and monitoring career-vocational education services for students with special needs (disabled, disadvantaged, or limited English proficient) in regular vocational education classrooms. The guide is organized…