Down syndrome (DS) is a complex condition associated with multiple medical, developmental, and behavioral concerns. A prospective, longitudinal clinical database was integrated into a specialty Down Syndrome Program, with the goals of better understanding the incidence, course, and impact of co-occurring medical, neurodevelopmental, and mental…

Program quality is an important topic for improving out-of-school time youth development programs. High levels of program quality may contribute to enhanced positive youth development outcomes. This paper explores aspects of program quality in the California 4-H Youth Development Program and its relationship to positive youth development outcomes.…

A comprehensive undergraduate experience encompasses a broad survey of the humanities, arts, social sciences, and multicultural and global education, as well as mathematics, science, and technology. These disciplines are essential components of a liberal arts education that prepares students with the skills and knowledge to navigate an…

In support of community development, natural resource, and other Extension programs, the research reported here aimed to identify current and potential outdoor recreational opportunities in the St. Johns River Basin, an inland area in northeastern Florida. We identify the characteristics of the visitors participating in the recreational activities…

This article is a summary of a report prepared for the University Council for Educational Administration Program Improvement Project for the Wallace Foundation. This explores the research base for educational leadership preparation programs, specifically examining literature on program features. The review covers context, candidates, faculty,…

The Community Science Workshops (CSWs)--with funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation--created a network among the CSW sites in California. The goals of the CSW Network project have been to improve programs, build capacity throughout the Network, and establish new sites. Inverness Research has been…

Participant perceptions of program effectiveness and impact are undoubtedly a popular focus of Extension program evaluations. However, the effects of participants' characteristics and contextual variables on program perceptions and how the resulting data can be used for program improvement are less explored in evaluation studies. Using data from…

What happens when teams from 57 cities building afterschool systems gather to discuss two key system responsibilities--improving afterschool programs and using data for informed decision-making? Lots of rich discussion. This report covers a national afterschool conference held in February 2013. It details what mayors, program providers, system…

That individual schools and districts often simultaneously engage in multiple professional development projects in a "one-size-fits-all" model poses several quandaries. One quandary is attempting to foster a particular teacher behavior or disposition with little follow-up. A second is implementing a school-wide (or district-wide) program…

This report contains an analysis of the Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) termination data collected and maintained by the Department of Labor, specifically the Office of Manpower Management Data Systems (OMMDS). The objectives of this study were to examine the OMMDS characteristics file, to determine the extent to which data are recorded, to…

Describes a novel form of citizen participation that has been developed by the Center for New Democratic Processes over the last decade. It is the belief of the authors that these citizen panels can overcome many of the deficiencies of other approaches to participation. Six criteria are suggested for a successful method of participation.…

A study was conducted to ascertain the extent to which colleges and universities are integrating new technology education curriculum activities into teacher inservice and professional development programs. Information was gathered by developing a questionnaire, pilot testing it, and mailing it to 50 selected colleges and universities for…

This review, which is the first review of Head Start home-based programs in more than a decade, employed a telephone survey of all grantees who operated home-based options. Also used were case studies of eight selected programs. Each program participated in an in-depth analysis of program operations and impacts on parents and children. Volume I of…

A study was undertaken of organization development (OD) programs, from the point of view of the organization members who plan and conduct them, to gain information for meaningful planning by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). A questionnaire was returned by 103 of 450 randomly selected OD practitioners. Most respondents had…

The Arizona Head Start Association is a federation of public and private organizations that provide Head Start programs and work to improve the conditions of children in the state. This annual report describes the operation of the Head Start program in Arizona for 2000-2001. Beginning with an introductory letter from the president of the Arizona…