This paper examines the U.S. social insurance system, which we define broadly to include both programs supported by dedicated taxes and other federal programs that provide income support, assistance in meeting basic needs, or services to improve economic opportunity. The paper considers the social insurance system as a whole as well as its…

The enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act (2002) and the subsequent succession of legislative acts have had a profound impact on educational policy. An increased emphasis on teacher accountability and effectiveness led to the use of standardized test results to determine tangible rewards or punishments. In response, a culture of teaching to…

What was accomplished and what was learned from United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) investment of over $733 million aimed at strengthening basic education systems in the developing world? These questions were addressed through an analysis of 286 documents drawn from 33 projects sponsored by the USAID between 1990 and 2005.…

Innovation has powered America's economy, creating good jobs and a high standard of living. Yet, the U.S. share of innovation-based industries is in decline, jeopardizing our status as the world's innovation leader. And one reason is that the United States has been unable to produce enough of its own workers with sufficient skills in science,…

Summarizes recent developments with reference to gifted education in the nation, outlines some of the current concerns in the field, and concludes with some implications for career education for the gifted and talented. (Author)

The report summarizes the observations of five State Implementation Grant directors for the first two years of the State Implementation Grant (SIG) program (a program designed to develop a statewide network of services for young handicapped children and to assist states in the implementation of Early Childhood State Plans). (PHR)

Is the United States getting it wrong when it comes to educating tomorrow's innovators in critical fields? It has been known for years that the only way to compete globally in information technology, engineering, nanotechnology, robotics and other fields is to give students the best educational opportunities possible. But do individuals have a…

The House Committee on Education and Labor has primary oversight responsibility for the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) and any new legislation relating to that office. In 1991 the authorizing legislation, set forth in the General Education Provisions Act, is due to expire. The Subcommittee, in the…

The recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (EASA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), provided broad changes encompassing many areas of public education in the United States. Accountability, expansion of school choice, increased focus on reading skills, and greater flexibility for state…

The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the centerpiece of the Clinton administration's education reform program, provides a fascinating case study of the challenges facing an activist administration in trying to craft federal legislation that can provide national direction and leadership in a highly decentralized education system. Goals 2000…

This document, the fifth of five volumes that comprise the final report of the National Assessment of Vocational Education focuses on funding and administration issues related to the Perkins Act. Chapter 1 explores issues in the within-state allocation of federal vocational education resources. It presents findings about actual allocation…

Many of the people who live in Knott County today are direct descendants of the early settlers of the region. Today the people of Knott County share an identity that is grounded in the place they and their ancestors called home. Perhaps the public endeavor in which the influence of place is most evident is education. In Knott County education has…