Educational partnerships with area-based approaches comprise an increasingly well-grounded and internationally extended strategy for equitable improvement. However, literature shows a lack of focused inquiry on the assessment of these educational collaborative programmes. This article aims to develop and validate an instrument to assess these…

One factor that may facilitate a successful reunification of children in foster care with their parents--or failing that, provide an alternate route to permanency through adoption or guardianship--is children's connections with extended family. However, because foster care frequently disrupts social connections, practitioners may need to take…

This document was produced by the authors based on their research for the report, "Family Finding Evaluations: A Summary of Recent Findings. Publication #2015-01," and is an added resource for further information. The report reviews the results from 13 evaluations of Family Finding. The Family Finding model provides child welfare…

During the past year, Wisconsin state legislators debated a series of bills aimed at closing low-performing public schools and replacing them with privately run charter schools. These proposals were particularly targeted at Milwaukee, the state's largest and poorest school district. Ultimately, the only legislation enacted was a bill that modestly…

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of 8 Local Education Agency (LEA) personnel who implemented the Transition Outcomes Project (TOP) in a midwestern state. These personnel represented 100% of the state LEAs who instigated the pilot of TOP in the participating state. Findings showed that TOP had 3 major positive effects: greater…

The educational achievement and attainment of young people in the United States has been a long-standing issue of concern. While analyses of long-term trend data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that students in the United States have made gains in reading and mathematics over the past few decades, a sizeable…

Describes the strategic planning process used in Wisconsin to keep marketing education programs viable. Includes information about the framework, the model, and needs assessment. Stresses the importance of evaluation and implementation. (JOW)

This paper examines the impact of vouchers in general and voucher design in particular on public school performance. It argues that all voucher programs are not created equal. There are often fundamental differences in voucher designs that affect public school incentives differently and induce different responses from them. It analyzes two voucher…

Charter schools are public schools created through a business-like contract, or "charter," with the sponsoring school board. Although the process is somewhat standardized, each state's schools are unique. Ways in which charter schools are operating in one state, Wisconsin, are detailed in this volume. The text represents the most…

This book provides a suggested model for district administrators, Job Service district directors, Private Industry Councils, and others working to create or re-implement in-school job placement programs in Wisconsin high schools. It includes a list of points to be considered and covered in the "statement of agreement" drawn up by…

This guide was written to provide a practical tool for school, community, family, business, and industry groups to use in planning, developing, and managing service networks to the meet the health, social, and educational needs of children at risk of school failure. This guide contains program models, elements of successful programs, and…

In the 1990s, federal education legislation and policies have encouraged state and local efforts in educational reform and placed a new emphasis on education for and about work. These initiatives have engaged the active participation of a broad range of partners and have spurred a variety of locally customized programs and practices. Nationally,…

A research project was designed to develop and validate instrumentation and procedures for a comprehensive internal and external evaluation of Wisconsin's Vocational, Technical and Adult Education Field/Community Services programs. A review of evaluation literature pertaining to adult and continuing education, the identification of statewide…

This report is an evaluation, using randomized experimental/control design, of a program involving negotiated contractual agreements (MAP) between prisoners and parole boards for specific parole dates contingent on performance in work, training and treatment activities. Contracts were generally for less than six months. Both feasibility and…

Summarized are activities of the Wausau District Public Schools (Wisconsin) toward developing a model for cost efficiency analysis in special education. The model links input-output analysis and task analysis features. Introductory information includes varying impressions of cost efficiency concerns and the current status of project development.…