In this research informed perspective, I discuss some of the barriers students face during progression to higher education. A crucial role can be played by higher education institutions (HEIs) and other public bodies. I discuss some of the measures taken and critically evaluate these to show how these can be improved. In the absence of a…

The article reports on the findings of a comparative case study of six projects that operated in Israel between 1980 and 2000. The study findings identify characteristics of the programs, the host organizations, and the social and political environment, which differentiated programs that are sustained from those that are not. The findings reaffirm…

Important past research on the state role, particularly that of state education agencies, in making and implementing educational policy is reviewed and assessed. Gaps in research and current issues are identified, and suggestions are offered for the future. (RL)

This monograph contains the results of the University of Michigan Rehabilitation Research Institute (UM-RRI) project activities with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services model program evaluation unit to examine issues related to similar benefits in rehabilitation. A framework and discussion paper for future aspects of this project…

In the current context of standards-based reform and heightened accountability for school performance, state education agencies (SEAs) have an important, but not yet well-articulated, role to play in local school improvement efforts. This article starts to articulate such a role by examining the variety of approaches and strategies used by 7 SEAs…

Concerns have been raised about the Department of Education's (Education) role in overseeing the lenders and schools that participate in the largest of the federal government's student loan programs, the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). GAO was asked to analyze Education's use of its oversight, guidance, and enforcement authorities…

The Reading First program was designed to help students in kindergarten through third grade develop stronger reading skills. This report examines the implementation of the Reading First program, including: (1) changes that have occurred to reading instruction; (2) criteria states have used to award sub-grants to districts, and the difficulties, if…

The Ohio School-to-Work (STW) Office was created in 1994 to manage state agencies' efforts to support 11 school-to-work pilot projects across Ohio. The STW Office shared its management responsibilities with the School-to-Work "A Team," which consisted of representatives from five Ohio departments and agencies, key business organizations,…

A formal review was conducted to assess the efforts made by federal agencies to implement the 1983 Emergency Jobs Appropriations Act (EJAA). (The EJAA provided emergency supplemental appropriations to provide productive employment for jobless Americans, to hasten or initiate federal projects and construction of lasting value to the nation, and to…

A study examined the role of the U.S. Department of Labor in implementing the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). Staff from the General Accounting Office (GAO) interviewed officials from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Office of Inspector General (OIG); ETA regional officials in four cities; state JTPA officials in five…

The Strategic Information Technology Plan of Washington is introduced and explained. The plan is mandated by state law to create a new framework for communication and collaboration to bring together agency technology planning with the achievement of statewide information technology goals and strategies. It provides a point of reference for the…

Considers key issues that schools, school districts, and other agencies need to address when planning a home visiting program to promote collaboration between home and school. Essential goals are defined, and the skills that home visitors need are explored. Home visiting programs are viewed as a developing process. (SLD)

This report on the impact of the Vocational Education ACT (VEA) on special needs populations in vocational education examines the structure of the VEA, the state and local contexts in which the law is implemented, and the problems of serving special populations that the mechanisms are attempting to address. Outlined first are the goals and role of…

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), schools districts, and institutions of higher education have initiated a number of efforts to improve teacher quality and professional development. The first section of this report highlights the recommendations of leading commissions and reports released in the past ten years pertaining to…