Reading has been at the forefront of early-grade educational interventions, but addressing the educational needs of students in math early on is also critical given that early gaps in math skills widen further over the course of schooling. In this study, we examine the effects of Kentucky's Math Achievement Fund -- a unique state-level program…

Early childhood education programs play an important role in child family-to-school transition. In 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Act, which levied a 50-cent tax on each pack of cigarettes and other tobacco products to finance programs for children ages 0-5. In less than two decades, First 5…

This narrative report provides descriptive information on the Louisiana adult education program. The report compares accomplishments to goals established for fiscal year 1986; defines reasons for slippage in areas in which goals have not been met; and determines on a statewide basis the average cost per student. Some of the highlights of the…

This annual report for fiscal year 1996 for the Educational Coordinating Council for Correctional Institutions in Maryland provides information on the inmate population, school improvement, technology, correctional education libraries and technology, special education, and the Occupational Skills Training Center. Eleven tables reflect composite…

This final report of the Nebraska Special Education Accountability Commission presents recommendations for reforming the state's special education system. The tasks of the commission were to develop recommendations for a new funding system for special education which would be identification and placement neutral, to encourage preventive services,…

The Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) was one of two federally funded youth conservation corps programs that existed prior to 1981. The other program, the Youth Conservation Corps, was a summer program, whereas the YACC operated on a year-round basis. In operation between 1977 and 1982, the YACC received funds of approximately $232 million…

This report describes and compares the inclusive assessment and accountability systems of Maryland and Kentucky, with a focus on components, scoring methods, reporting practices, data use, participation of students with disabilities, testing accommodations, and implementation considerations (including cost and training issues). Maryland and…

Providing an overview of the educational and fiscal accountability system for community colleges in the state of California, this paper discusses the development of the system and describes the role of the Chancellor's Office (CO) of the California Community Colleges in accountability. Following a review of state and federal programs that include…

Surveys listing 20 issues relating to school choice and special education were sent to the 102 Directors of Special Education in Minnesota. Directors were asked to rate issues as important or not important. The 54 responding directors identified the following issues as most important: (1) excess program costs; (2) effects of enrollment options on…

This book on evaluating social programs is an outcome of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Evaluation Design Project, which produced a set of 10 guides for the evaluation of state and local JTPA programs. This book distills ideas from these guides and applies them to a larger context. Part 1 presents a general approach to program evaluation…

A study compared the cost effectiveness of secondary child care and commercial foods occupational home economics programs in Kentucky. Identified as dependent variables in the study were program effectiveness, cost efficiency, and cost effectiveness ratio. Program expenditures, community size, and program age were considered as independent…

Between July 1, 1991 and June 30, 1993, Washington State's Displaced Homemaker Program (DHP) served a total of 55,363 individuals. The program's intensive instructional services component was completed by 2,496 eligible displaced homemakers, 84% of whom were aged 30-59. Of the DHP participants, 84% were white, 75% were separated or divorced, 79%…

An examination of data pertaining to the participation of adult residents of New York in the Adult Literacy Education Program during 1981-82 revealed that many of the 85,400 adults served by the program moved from being illiterate and unemployed or on welfare to being employed and independent of public assistance. The majority of those…

Texas is developing a return-on-investment (ROI) measure to assess the cost-effectiveness of work force programs. Emphasis is on issues related to conducting cross-program ROI analysis at the level of the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) in career or one-stop centers. To make the most appropriate and effective use of ROI, the following…

Alaska's State Training and Employment Program (STEP) was designed with the primary objective of reducing current and future claims against Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits by providing training to those who are unemployed or facing unemployment. STEP is also charged with fostering growth of existing businesses and attracting new businesses to…