Increasingly, people are looking for education and training options that are more affordable, flexible, can quickly open doors to good jobs, and--ideally--pave the way for further educational attainment. Businesses also want to hire workers with the skills needed for jobs in growing industries. Non-degree credentials (NDCs) can often meet these…

State financial aid is a critical piece of college affordability for students from low-income backgrounds. Nearly three quarters of all students attend college in their home state - which is typically a requirement for state-based financial aid - and first-generation and students from low-income backgrounds are even more likely than their peers to…

The recommendations put forth in this paper stemmed from a series of conversations, conducted over the course of 2019, with experts and stakeholders representing a range of perspectives and experiences within higher education and financial aid. The working group explored policy design details in depth and identified core areas of general…

In the United States, students are assigned to public schools based on where they live. School districts have set boundaries and students living in the neighborhoods within those boundaries attend the district's schools. The district's boundaries are further delineated into attendance zones, in which particular homes and neighborhoods are assigned…

This Special Report examines four principles for state leaders to consider as they develop or evaluate financial aid redesign reform efforts. The financial aid redesign principles, identified through a Thinkers Meeting that included experts from across the country, fall into four areas: Financial aid programs should be student-centered,…

This is the third paper on the topic of outcomes-based funding written by Dennis Jones for Complete College America. The first paper, "Performance Funding: From Idea to Action" (ED535356), proposed a set of design and implementation principles to help states develop and implement their own outcomes-based funding models. The second paper,…

Within California, there is widespread understanding and consensus that college affordability is a challenge that needs to be addressed. Along with this consensus on the nature and implications of California's college affordability problems, there is also emerging agreement about how to tackle it. While this convergence can form the backbone of a…

This report provides an overview of southeastern state efforts to assist low-performance schools in building capacity to improve students' academic achievement. High poverty, poor economic resources, and a high turnover rate of both students and practitioners are factors that impede school improvement. High-poverty schools that do improve commonly…

In their paper entitled "Why should postsecondary institutions consider partnering to offer (Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)?" the authors reviewed frequently asked questions they encountered from higher education professionals about IDAs, but as their research continued so did the questions. FAQ II has more in-depth questions and…

A case study is presented of a Texas educational facilities program that was developed to provide long-term state assistance to school districts for the construction or renovation of their facilities by providing equal access to revenue for the specific purpose of repaying debt issued to finance instructional facilities. This report presents a…

The University of Minnesota Medical School has developed a clinical education experience for third-year students that involves working directly with and supervision by general physicians practicing in rural areas. As of 1986, 57 percent of former program students in practice were in rural communities, most in Minnesota. (Author/MSE)

The major features of the Florida plan for inservice teacher education are presented. Central to this plan is the organization of educational improvement centers not only for teachers but for all school personnel. The program was mandated by state legislation and receives state funding. This state-wide program is administered at the state level…

A report on the New York City Central Labor Council-Consortium for Worker Education Workplace Literacy Program documents 15 workplace literacy program activities undertaken by 16 unions. The report has five sections. The first section covers the history and socioeconomic context in which the state-funded program emerged, and the roles of the two…

The 20 Regional Education Service Centers in Texas were established in 1967 at the request of the State Board of Education. Governance is vested in locally elected boards of directors in the participating school districts, and each center is managed by an executive director. Operated by state appropriations, special projects and programs, and…

This report shows how and why state governments must take the lead in solving the debilitating problems of high risk youth. These young persons will fail to become productive citizens without special interventions to improve their educational, occupational, and social skills. The basic problem is defined and research on effective responses is…