This report details the story of the Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Grant in Washington for the period of 2012-2016. It provides detailed reflections on the state's accomplishments over the grant period, shares the enhanced vision for the RTT-ELC in Washington, and provides specific details about what has changed in the state…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the reporting period of 01-01-2016 to 12-31-2016 provides a summary of Wisconsin's and strategies that Wisconsin will implement to address those challenges. During 2016, significant progress was made implementing programs and activities funded by the Race to…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Georgia's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Georgia will implement to address those challenges. Georgia's third year of implementation of its Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant continued…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Illinois' accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Illinois will implement to address those challenges. Illinois' Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Grant initiatives reflect the State's three…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Kentucky's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Kentucky will implement to address those challenges. In its third year of implementation, Kentucky continued to utilize the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Michigan's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Michigan will implement to address those challenges. Strengthened investment in high-quality early learning and development continues to energize educational…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Oregon's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Oregon will implement to address those challenges. In 2016, Oregon continued on its trajectory to creating a dynamic early learning system capable of anticipating and…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Ohio's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Ohio will implement to address those challenges. When Ohio wrote its application for the Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge Grant, its vision for early childhood…

This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2016 describes Maryland's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies Maryland will implement to address those challenges. Maryland received one of twenty Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge Fund Grant (RTTT-ELC) awards in the…

Over the past few years, the focus group method has assumed a very important role as a method for collecting qualitative data in social and behavioural science research. This article elucidates theoretical and practical problems and prospects associated with the use of focus groups as a qualitative research method in social and behavioural science…

This study evaluated variables associated with academic preparation and student demographics as predictors of academic achievement through participation in supplemental instruction (SI) programs for community college students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The findings suggest a differential impact of SI outcome for…

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized as a complex brain disorder that impacts the life of an individual (Autism Society, n.d.; Autism Speaks, 2013). The prevalence of autism is on the rise (Baio, 2012; CDC, 2012), impacting the stress of the family (Haimer, 2012; Hall & Graff) and the need for services (Haney, 2012). This capstone study…

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific competencies needed to apply social marketing, a promising approach to behavior change, to Extension programming. A modified Delphi study was used to achieve group consensus among a panel of experts on the skills, characteristics, and knowledge needed to successfully apply this behavior change…

Cooperative and Work-integrated Education (CWIE) programs have been widely accepted as educational programs that can effectively connect what students are learning to the world of work through placements. Because a global quality standards framework could be a very valuable resource and guide to establishing, developing, and accrediting quality…

In the spring of 2015, the Centre for Academic Communication (CAC) at the University of Victoria began a series of projects aimed at understanding the needs of undergraduate and graduate students with English as additional language (EAL), with the goal of increasing the effectiveness of the Centre's programming. The first project, detailed in this…