In February 2007, First 5 LA contracted with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) and its subcontractors, Juarez and Associates, American Institutes for Research (AIR), and Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center, to conduct the First 5 LA/LAUP Universal Preschool Child Outcomes Study (UPCOS). The authors conducted the study…

The racially-based academic achievement gap demonstrates that schools are not equally successful with all students. There are gaps in discipline; placement in remedial, gifted, and honors classes; assignment to special education programs; grade point averages; dropout and graduation rates as well as in funding and resources. The elimination of…

This study evaluated the School-Based Staff Development (SBSD) pilot project of the Scarborough (Ontario) Board of Education. The evaluation is based on interviews with representatives of the eight elementary and four secondary schools participating in the project. Findings indicated that: (1) schools were extremely positive in their response to…

This paper describes the contextual dimensions of eight school sites that ameliorate or restrain relationships between mentor and novice teachers. Interview data from 23 mentors, 16 novice teachers, and 8 principals suggest 5 contextual themes that ameliorate or restrain an effective induction for novice teachers: (1) early experiences; (2)…

This study examines the outcomes for teachers and the benefits reaped from a Connecticut beginning teacher induction program. Data were sought to determine whether the Connecticut State Department of Education's intent to improve the quality and value of first-year teaching through intensive, ongoing support by a mentor was being met. The method…

A study examined the factors associated with operational limitations of the Training and Visit System, an information diffusion method, at the local levels. A personal interview survey was conducted to gather data required for this study from agricultural extension personnel from three predominantly agricultural areas in Sri Lanka. Stepwise…

This manual describes the Job Seekers' Workshop and its component activities. It is intended as a guide to workshop leaders and discusses technical considerations such as materials, equipment, and recruitment of clients. The introduction states that the workshop is designed to improve job-seeking skills, especially behavior in a job interview, and…

Analyzed are the results of individual interviews with participants in the Indiana Global Education Program, which developed teacher in-service training sessions, dissemination networks, materials, and resource centers to strengthen global education in Indiana schools. This is the second phase of the evaluation study. In phase 1 questionnaires…

Twenty-two junior, senior, and graduate students from an introductory counseling class for nonmajors were introduced to the verbal psychotherapies, and randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The groups were treated identically and received the usual instructional program except for the treatment group receiving 30 minutes of…

The major purpose of this study was to present some findings relative to the benefits and the effectiveness of total learning in a full-day-kindergarten program as compared to the traditional half-day kindergarten program. To do this the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation of Indiana, implemented and conducted a full-day kindergarten pilot…

This report describes a study of 23 community-based child advocacy projects, located in 14 states and 20 cities, and outlines a strategy for evaluating such projects. Data on each project's history, development, and current activities were obtained. Data were analyzed to (1) determine how such projects are started and become operational, (2)…

Sunshine laws arose from public concern over how public officials make decisions. Every state has sunshine laws, and in every case those laws have been applied to public higher education systems and institutions. Operationally, they serve a variety of goals. These include helping to ensure that public colleges and universities are pursuing…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the process of mediation in child protection (CP) and the essential aspects which may contribute to developing more effective working relationships with child welfare families. The study focused on neutrality, one of the primary aspects of CP mediation. Interviews were conducted with 17 adult family…

In 2001, the Institute for Education and Social Policy was awarded a grant to evaluate the Cornerstone K-3 national literacy initiative. The evaluation for September 2001 through November 2002 focused on all four Phase I districts (Cleveland, Ohio; Jackson, Mississippi; Talladega, Alabama; Trenton, New Jersey) and two Phase II districts…

Examined structural and programmatic factors impeding delivery of the services to female offenders. Suggests that high recidivism rates among women released from jail may be, in part, a consequence of discriminatory policies and the general unresponsiveness of community agencies. Outlines recommendations for better use of available resources.…