Policymakers, child care providers, and parents face tradeoffs in determining how much to spend on child care, including how many hours to purchase, and the features of programs that might influence quality. Given these tradeoffs, it is useful to understand what constitutes quality, the cost of care features associated with quality, the effects of…

In response to policy initiatives calling for the implementation of evidence-based classroom practice, instructional coaches are frequently utilized as providers of professional development (PD). Despite the demand for instructional coaches, there is little empirical evidence that coaching improves teacher practice. We address this limitation by…

The environments in which population health interventions occur shape both their implementation and outcomes. Hence, when evaluating these interventions, we must explore both intervention content and context. Mixed methods (integrating quantitative and qualitative methods) provide this opportunity. However, although criteria exist for establishing…

In Australia, growth in the demand of early childhood services for young children aged birth to three years has placed increased pressure on the early childhood education sector as new policy stipulates the need for qualified teachers. The new policy has resulted in a growth in Master of Early Childhood Education programs in Australian…

While research on program effectiveness offers ample evidence that afterschool programs can benefit young people in a variety of ways, this same body of research demonstrates that not all programs are equally effective (Granger, 2008). Some programs show positive results in many or all major outcome categories. Other programs are associated with…

The relationship between school district size and measures of educational quality such as the training and experience of teachers, teacher turnover, and breadth and depth of program offerings is examined. Literature on the subject and results of a Colorado study support larger schools. (PP)

This document analyzes Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW) regulations for day care centers and homes. New DHEW day care proposals are paraphrased and the content and history of related regulations are summarized. Topics discussed include definitions, applicability, Office of Education waivers, program activities for children,…

The main publications of the United Kingdom's Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) on vocational skills and economic development issues since 1997 were reviewed. The primary purpose of the review was to identify key messages and useful sources of further reading on a range of skills and economic development topics. The materials presented…