Historically, U.S. school districts have led schooling, while state education agencies (SEAs) have held a largely regulatory role in school improvement. Yet, a recent reform strategy, the "state takeover," allows an SEA to assume direct governance of a low-performing district -- potentially creating a much more active role for state…

A state education agency (SEA) can pull a powerful lever for school turnaround by setting goals publicly and releasing reports on progress toward those goals at turnaround schools to build public support for turnaround efforts. SEAs can gather information for reporting from data they already have available. This report clarifies indicators and…

Distressed urban neighborhoods face challenges on multiple fronts, but most efforts to confront these problems work in isolation of one another. The New Communities Program (NCP) is an exception, helping selected Chicago neighborhoods develop partnerships to address challenges involving employment, education, housing, and safety in a…

This report describes the use of Lead Turnaround Partners (LTPs) in the current School Improvement Grant (SIG) program and provides the results of document review, surveys, and interviews with eight State Education Agencies and seven Lead Turnaround Partner organizations. The study focuses on the implementation of the transformation and turnaround…

In 2010, unprecedented levels of resources began to flow through state education agencies (SEAs) to support dramatic change in persistently low-performing schools under the expanded federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program. The challenge for states is to leverage the federal investment to drive dramatic and sustainable change efforts in…

The components of a successful school are clear. Many educators can easily list them: high expectations for all students, a safe and orderly learning environment, strong instructional leadership, highly qualified teachers, data-driven decision making, etc. Then why don't more schools change the what they are doing to mirror them? Knowing the…

This article examines the community-level impact of concentrated child welfare agency involvement in African American neighborhoods. Based on interviews of 25 African American women in a Chicago neighborhood, the study found that residents were aware of intense agency involvement in their neighborhood and identified profound effects on social…

Illinois' new Superintendent of Public Instruction is interviewed regarding his position on several topics, particularly on the role of the Division of Vocational and Technical Education. (AG)

The major purpose of this descriptive report is to provide an overview of the structure, capacity, and roles of educational service agencies (ESAs) across five states--Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin--in the Great Lakes region, within the context of the broader statewide systems of support for educational improvement and progress.…

The implementation of selected coordinating functions by the professional staffs of state Junior College Boards in Florida and Illinois, and effects of the implementation practices on individual community-junior college integrity were investigated in this study. A survey of the literature revealed the generally recognized functions for which state…

Describes the principal features of a multisystems approach to family preservation that involves placement prevention and permanency planning. The approach is being taught to family preservation workers in Illinois. Discussion concerns the approach's theoretical premises, tasks, significant assessment areas, and ways of understanding the approach.…

Reviews case records of 256 children in foster care in Illinois and examines the relationship between agency practices and parental visiting patterns. Findings indicate that there is a strong connection between visiting plans and actual visiting patterns and that knowledge and policy about visitation are not fully integrated into current child…

This report provides an overview of vocational training programs and activities for Limited English Proficient (LEP) adults in Illinois, with particular emphasis on the Chicago area and on Elgin County. State policy regarding LEP adults is discussed, as are the roles of state agencies in providing services to these individuals. Statistical…

The Venice-Lincoln Technical Center, Venice, Illinois, is housed in former public school facilities and offers a variety of adult education and job training classes. State agencies' involvement and enabling legislation concerned with program implementation, development, and funding are discussed. (LH)

The Illinois community college system is comprised of 39 districts encompassing 49 campuses which served a fall 1974 enrollment of 267,156 (over 50 percent of all students enrolled in public institutions of higher education in Illinois). According to legislative dictum, Illinois community colleges must offer programs in liberal arts and sciences,…