Boosting literacy among school-age children remains a national priority. Nearly one third of students in the United States have not developed the foundational reading skills needed to succeed academically, with students living in poverty, students with disabilities, and English learners especially at risk. Starting in 2010, Congress invested more…

The ESEA Blueprint for Reform states that teachers need "effective, ongoing, job-embedded, professional development that is targeted to student and school needs… [and] aligned with evidence of improvements in student learning." Unfortunately, the professional development approaches advocated, though sensible and compelling in theory,…

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) initiated the Growth Model Pilot Project (GMPP) in November 2005 with the goal of approving up to ten states to incorporate growth models in school adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations under the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act" ("ESEA"). After extensive reviews, nine states…

Accelerating Achievement in Math and Science in Urban Schools (AAMSUS) is a research and demonstration grant funded under the Javits Education for Gifted and Talented Program. AAMSUS, begun in 2004, is built on the notions of finding economically disadvantaged children early, providing varying interventions, raising achievement, and having the…

Three states, Ohio, Texas, and Arkansas were selected to study implementation of policies relating to the identification of gifted students from special populations, i.e., culturally diverse students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. Individual profiles were completed for each state, and a cross state comparison…

Ohio's use of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) 8 percent set-aside has been noted as exemplary. The first half of this report reviews the national literature on 8 percent JTPA programs, then discusses Ohio's State Education Coordination and Grants Advisory Council (SECGAC), unique among state administrative mechanisms. It notes that SECGAC…

The Ohio State plan for educating homeless children and youth responds to requirements of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The plan is comprised of a foreword, six sections, and two appendices. The foreword reviews the history and provisions of the McKinney Act and summarizes Ohio's planned action for homeless education.…

This document is the first annual report of findings for the process analysis component of an evaluation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program (JOBS) in Ohio. Chapter I reviews the legislative history of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and related programs and describes work programs and work program evaluations in Ohio.…

This second annual report describes implementation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program in Ohio. Part I is a synthesis of findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information obtained in 15 demonstration counties. Chapter 1 provides background on the historical development of assistance programs in the United States…

This third annual report describes implementation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program in Ohio. Part I is a synthesis of findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information obtained in 15 demonstration counties. Chapter 1 provides background on historical development of assistance programs in the United States and…

These matrices summarize the content of the certification/chartering requirements established by nine first-round and three second-round implementation states to deliver services in One-Stop Career Centers. Seven areas or dimensions of design/operations are compared. The narrative accompanying the matrices is divided into two sections--a matrix…

This executive summary describes a study that finds nearly every school in the Great Lakes states is threatened to fail the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements mandated by the federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act. NCLB holds schools and districts accountable for student achievement on state standardized tests and schools…

In the 1990s, the nation's educational focus turned to troubled schools in the nation's poorest cities. Under the leadership of Luther Williams, then Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Urban Systemic Initiative was created to improve the teaching and learning of science and mathematics. Recognizing that high-needs…

This publication contains summaries of the presentations from a conference on employment services for disadvantaged older workers. The opening remarks made by Joan A. Hammond and Kenneth M. Mahan are outlined. Summaries of the following papers are provided: "National Perspective on Older Worker Programs," by Ann Lordeman; "Older…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the implementation of a mandatory uniform policy in urban public high schools improved school performance measures at the building level for rates of attendance, graduation, academic proficiency, and student conduct as measured by rates of suspensions and expulsions. Sixty-four secondary…