Arising from a research-based, comprehensive school transformation strategy, community schools organize in- and out-of-school resources and supports such as mental health services, meals, health care, tutoring, internships, and other learning and career opportunities to fit specific community needs. Through this strategy, students, families,…

Based on events in Florida, this case explores issues that accompany the choice to arm school personnel as a means to address school violence and shootings. Readers consider the issue from the perspective of the school board of a large, diverse district and are presented with dilemmas while they consider the effectiveness, the political…

Proportional identification of students for gifted services in Florida school districts is an important goal. A multi-level model was used to analyze school district data from the Florida Department of Education from the 2011-2016 academic years. Results from the study indicate that the likelihood of identification of students varied by their…

When comparing overall FCAT performance of the District to the State, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools District comes up a little short in Reading and barely higher in Math. However, when the comparisons to the State are confined within the typical subgroup categories, the District meets or exceeds the State's performance in all subgroups.…

Amid the cacophony of special interests fighting to be heard in statehouses and on Capitol Hill, a cadre of current and former chief state school officers is elbowing its way into the nation's education debate at a time when states are taking more control of K-12 education. A little more than a year old, Chiefs for Change is an invitation-only…

States significantly increased buy-in from local teachers' unions in round two of the Race to the Top competition, but made far less progress in enlisting districts or expanding the number of students affected by the states' education reform plans. Those patterns emerged from an "Education Week" analysis of applications from 29 states…

In 1997, the state of California labeled Markham Middle School as low-performing. Located in the Watts neighborhood of Southeastern Los Angeles, Markham is stuffed with over 1,500 students in just three grades, sixth-eighth. Roughly 70 percent of the students are Hispanic, and 30 percent are black. Eighty-two percent are poor. That year, the…

This Wallace "Perspective" summarizes a decade of foundation research and work in school leadership to identify what it is that effective school principals do. It concludes that they carry out five key actions particularly well, including shaping a vision of academic success for all students and cultivating leadership in others. The…

Presents examples of what state government initiatives can do to jump-start a school district's educational technology plans. Examines effective state initiatives from Florida, Louisiana, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. (GR)

Several speakers addressed this conference of the Southeastern Regional Junior College Leadership Program and the Mississippi Junior College Commission. (1) The balance of state and local relations (J.L.Wattenbarger) depends on current trends: the change from local to state or federal finance, national standards required by population mobility,…

This report describes the program for financing public schools in Florida. The first section of the report describes key features of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) and provides background information about local, state, and federal support of education in the state. The second section identifies legal authorizations, outlines the…

Considers the impact of state power and authority on community college governance. Traces the trend toward increased state influence over institutional decisions in California and Florida. Looks at implications for the future. (DMM)

The second of two articles addresses recent school finance litigation raised in five states. These decisions appear to have strengthened the concept of education as a state responsibility, so much so that the likelihood of significant reversal toward increased local autonomy appears to be improbable. (MLF)

"The 2007 Legislative Briefing" is a topical summary of actions during the 2006 legislative sessions that affect education in the 16 SREB states. Topics include state budgets and the economy, tax and revenue, school finance, teacher compensation, licensure, certification and evaluation of teachers, strengthening elementary and secondary…

State legislatures appear to be opting for one of several schemes to provide equalized local initiative and thus preserve the State-local partnership of K-12 funding, which scheme could be called creeping State funding.'' (Author)