The possibility of converting a vacated school building into a useful resource presents a community with an interesting situation. During a 5-year period ending in 1997, over 100 rural Illinois communities encountered this situation. This report explores what happens to vacant school buildings and offers case studies of various re-uses, new…

Rural communities of less than 2,500 residents in Illinois showed a reversal of growth patterns between 1950-80. During the 1950's Illinois' approximately 900 rural towns grew at a rate of 60% compared with 81-86% growth rate for towns in other size classes; during the 1970's rural towns showed a steady growth increase of 73% while growth of towns…

These two newsletter issues recount activities of Voices for Illinois Children to ensure that basic needs of children, families, and communities are met. The summer issue notes various bills in progress in the Illinois House, and looks at the lack of health insurance affecting more than 300,000 Illinois children. Child advocacy efforts are also…

"Illinois Trustee," the official publication of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA), is distributed to all trustees, chancellors, and presidents, as well as to other persons interested in the public community colleges of Illinois. These four issues of volume 24 include the following articles: (1) "Community…

"Illinois Trustee," the official publication of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA), is distributed to all trustees, chancellors, and presidents, as well as to other persons interested in the public community colleges of Illinois. These five issues of volume 22 include the following articles: (1) "Colleges…

This issue (v14 n1) of the University of Illinois'"On Research and Leadership Update" contains seven articles. The first, "Community College and Beyond: A National Evaluation of Tech Prep," by Debra Bragg, discusses results of the author's study of student experiences and outcomes in eight local tech-prep consortia in the U.S.…

This report contains a condensation and highlights of public hearings held by the Illinois State Advisory Council on Adult, Vocational and Technical Education (SACVE) and the Illinois Employment and Training Council (IETC) on the subject of community colleges in the state. During the hearings on this topic, 100 witnesses testified. The report is…

As a result of the National Commission on Excellence in Education report and other recent studies, an increasing number of governors and state legislators have sought to establish new requirements and minimum standards statewide. Addressing the potential threat that these requirements represent to local school boards in their efforts to maintain…

This document examines microenterprise development as an employment option for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. The document begins with a brief discussion of the feasibility of self-employment as an option for TANF recipients, particularly in a slow economy. The next section answers policy questions pertaining to the…