In the latest addition to the National College Attainment Network's (NCAN) state policy resource library, we present a new report about how to simplify state financial aid programs. While maximum award amounts tend to grab headlines, the fine print can make all the difference in whether students can access and retain state aid. Those most impacted…

The Mastery-based Learning (MBL) Work Group has examined opportunities to increase student access to relevant and robust mastery-based academic pathways aligned to personal career goals and postsecondary education, and reviewed the role of the High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) in supporting mastery-based learning. The Work Group members believe…

Schools are experiencing unprecedented disruption, forcing educators to think differently about how they engage with their students and forcing changes to longstanding systems that have been established to deliver education. This presents an opportunity to not only discover ways to address education during the coronavirus pandemic, but also to…

Title VII provides funding for the education of American Indian/Alaska Native students based on a formula grant available to school districts, charter schools, and local education agencies (LEAs). This report explores why some eligible schools and districts do not apply for federal Title VII, potentially resulting in American Indian/Alaska Native…

The Bright Futures Scholarship (BFS), Florida's lottery-funded, merit-based scholarship program, has been a source of both praise and criticism since its 1997 inception. Proponents of the scholarship assert the program has achieved the desired goals of making college more affordable for state residents and encouraging the brightest students to…

This report examines the "Wave One" school districts in New York State as they expanded into the second year of Universal Prekindergarten (UPK). Through surveys with district UPK coordinators and analysis of final reports submitted to the state education department, information was gathered about the implementation, programming, and…

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction implemented, in 71 school districts, a pilot project designed to assist handicapped learners to participate in vocational education programs. The program, called Designated Vocational Instruction (DVI), is intended to improve the scope and quality of secondary-level vocational education for special…

Illinois' state-funded preschool program, the Illinois Prekindergarten Program for Children at Risk of Academic Failure, is serving almost 19,000 children in the 1989-90 period on an allocation of 48 million dollars, which was distributed to 184 projects in 353 school districts. The preschool projects serve children of 3-5 years, who are taught…

This paper discusses the nature and availability of early childhood care and education in Illinois and advances recommendations to improve the current system. It argues that current multiple federal, state, and local funding streams, with different eligibility requirements and administrations, divide families and programs into artificial and…

The vocational rehabilitation agencies in Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) cooperated in a study to determine whether there were systematic gender differences along input, program, and output dimensions among the state vocational rehabilitation programs in the region over a 13-year period, 1972-1984. The…

In compliance with The Master Plan for Higher Education (1985) and Senate Bill 121 (1991), which both establish transfer as a priority for California's colleges and universities, the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the University of California (UC) adopted a collective mission. To provide access and opportunity for students, CCC and UC…

This evaluation addresses Florida concerns that relate to the mandates of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act for the 2 years ending June 30, 1990. It is based on year-round evaluation activities conducted by the Florida Council on Vocational Education through projects, committee meetings, public hearings, surveys, interviews, and…

Federal regulations for the Adult Education Act and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act were revised in 1985. The following are the major changes to the Adult Education Act regulations: (1) the definition of "adult" was changed to permit services to persons under the age of 16 in some cases; (2) the definition of…

A 5-year (1986-91) follow-up needs assessment was conducted to evaluate current single parent and displaced homemaker programs in New Jersey. Suggestions were offered to help them continue effectively helping the changing target population attain long-term economic self-sufficiency. Recommendations made in response to specific findings included…

This task force report offers specific recommendations to enhance secondary vocational education as an integral component within the total educational spectrum in the state of Maine. The task force identified six major initiatives and made 30 specific recommendations, which are detailed in this report. The six initiatives cover (1) approaches to…