In "The Fight for America's Schools", Barbara Ferman brings together a diverse group of contributors to investigate how parents, communities, teachers, unions, and students are mobilizing to oppose market-based reforms in education. Drawing on a series of rich case studies, the book illustrates how disparate groups can forge new…

Background: An increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for adults on government-funded nutrition assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been observed; however, this association among preschool-aged children is not well understood. Longitudinal research designs tracking changes in body mass…

Early education has been a growing priority for the Obama administration, and its competitive funding is spurring innovation in this field around the country. In 2013, early education journalist Paul Nyhan, author of this report, conducted case studies of four competitive grant programs that are triggering changes in early education: "Race to…

Involving two or more academic subjects, interdisciplinary studies aim to blend together broad perspectives, knowledge, skills, and epistemology in an educational setting. By focusing on topics or questions too broad for a single discipline to cover, these studies strive to draw connections between seemingly different fields. Cases on…

This document is designed to promote effective involvement in Title I programs by providing useful ideas and sources of additional information. Practical articles on effective parent involvement in education and materials illustrating how particular communities addressed their needs are presented. Also provided is an inventory of people, agencies…

To inform researchers and provide guidance to policy-makers inside and outside government who participate in federal decision-making affecting children, a study was conducted under the auspices of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families. Specific objectives of the study were (1) to develop a better understanding of how federal policies…

Described is an analysis of variables potentially influential in public participation processes associated with Federally-funded projects in water resources, wastewater management, and highway construction. Methodology involved three phases: (1) a review of public participation literature to inductively identify variables present or recommended…

This report examines critical issues that rural educators face in establishing preschool programs. Even Start is a federal program designed to meet the educational needs of preschool children who have under-educated parents. In addition to participating in their child's education, the program requires parents to enroll in educational or vocational…

The fourteen case study summaries included in this booklet are part of "Interim Report III" of the "Home Start Evaluation Study." Each case study was developed after field visits to each of the demonstration programs by case study workers from the evaluation agencies. The summaries are divided into seven parts: (1) a…

This handbook provides Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) prime sponsors and youth program planners with information on planning and implementing youth participation in their employment programs. (Youth participation means projects in which young people assume responsibility for work that meets genuine community needs.) Section 1…

The eight interim case study summaries included in this booklet are part of "Report II" of the "Home Start Evaluation Study." Each case study was developed after field visits to each of the demonstration programs by case study workers from the evaluation agencies. The summaries are divided into six areas: (1) a statistical…

Reports a case study that examined the effects of parent policymaking within Head Start, focusing on low-income mothers' involvement, opinions, and impact. Interviews and observations indicated that county Head Start policymakers and administrators had difficulty bringing low-income families into the dialog about policies, programs, and…

International research has consistently found that early childhood staff are anxious about their relationships with parents. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of early childhood staff from a variety of early childhood settings in Australia regarding their experiences with the federal government's Quality Improvement and Accreditation…

This study focuses on eight cities in the Model Cities Program and the effects of the program on national urban policy and the ability of cities and counties to cope with urban problems. The cities (Boston, Chicago, Dayton, Indianapolis, Newark, New York, Savannah, and Seattle) were chosen not only for their geographic and population…