Michigan's K-12 education system has arguably never truly supported all students to reach their full potential and prepare them for post-secondary opportunities and success. Instead, Michigan's education system has served as an engine of inequality when it should be providing opportunities for all kids to learn. Now is a critical time to address…

This study examines "First 10 Schools and Communities"--coordinated efforts to improve teaching, learning, and care during the first decade of children's lives. First 10 initiatives take two basic forms. First 10 School Hubs are anchored by a single elementary school, which provides direct support to families and collaborates with nearby…

This project contributes to the body of research examining the implications of the geographic location of charter schools for student access, especially in high-poverty communities. Using geographic information systems (GIS) software, this paper uses data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey to identify the socioeconomic characteristics…

Uptown, on Chicago's north side, was home to thousands of Appalachian migrants in the 1960s. Known fondly as Hillbilly Heaven for the numerous honky-tonk bars, and concentration of southern whites, Uptown was eyed for urban renewal by an elite group of business owners and civic leaders who referred to it as the Hillbilly Ghetto. This group…

Section 104(a) of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 made the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) available to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and schools in high poverty areas. Under the CEP, families are not required to submit applications for free or reducedprice (FRP) meals, and schools must provide free lunch and breakfast…

The integration of technology in classrooms is rapidly emerging as a way to provide more educational opportunities for students. As virtual learning environments become more popular, evaluating the impact of this technology on student success is vital. "Exploring the Effectiveness of Online Education in K-12 Environments" combines…

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…

In schools across the country, students routinely encounter a range of safety issues--from overt acts of violence and bullying to subtle intimidation and disrespect. Though extreme incidents such as school shootings tend to attract the most attention, day-to-day incidents such as gossip, hallway fights, and yelling matches between teachers and…

The purpose of this study was to replicate both The Education Trust's "The Funding Gap" and D. Verstegen and L. Driscoll's "The Illinois Dilemma" studies published in 2008 utilizing the actual allocations to districts resulting from the fiscal policy mechanism (funding formula) in Illinois for the 2004-2005 school year to…

The authors interviewed Black and Latino students from five high-poverty high schools as they attempted to make the transition into college. Their ability to exert individual agency with regard to their entrance exams and their college transition was circumscribed by the messages and behavioral norms that dominated their low-performing high school…

The Resources Cost Model (RCM) determines an appropriate cost of education for each Illinois school district. Appropriate cost is a function of the quantity of resources (teachers, supplies, and buildings) needed and the price of resources faced by each district. A modified RCM framework could remove the model's surburban bias and improve judgment…

A CONFERENCE WAS HELD TO PROVIDE 30 PARTICIPATING SCHOLARS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF UNDERDEVELOPED NATIONS IN RELATION TO EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH. THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF BIENNIAL CONFERENCES, IT POOLED INTERDISCIPLINARY RESOURCES FOR REAPPRAISAL OF THE MOST RECENT FINDINGS, AND PROVIDED THE ATMOSPHERE FOR AN…

Christopher, Illinois, a rural, economically depressed community of 2,800, is reaping the benefits from two innovative, community-based technology programs. The Christopher High School District established its award-winning technology program in 1995. The Christopher Elementary School District implemented a similar plan in 1996. Both initiatives…

This report extends the funding gap analysis for K-12 districts that was published by The Education Trust in August 2002. This study provides information on the national ranking of all Illinois' school districts based on poverty quartile and state and local funding. It also examines funding adequacy, in addition to funding equity. (Contains 4…

Project REDY (Rural Education-Disadvantaged Youth) was initiated by the University of Illinois on June 1, 1965, and is scheduled to terminate June 30, 1970. The objectives of the project were: (1) to study in depth a depressed rural area and to identify conditions and trends that typify the area; (2) to develop and conduct a model…