The future prosperity of the United States relies strongly upon the success of its higher education system. With an increasingly technological and competitive world economy, more jobs require the advanced skills and knowledge that higher education provides. Yet despite the significant efforts toward improving elementary and secondary education in…

This report is a summary of discussions that took place at the Learning and Community Transition, Lakes District Rural Dialogue, held in Burns Lake, British Columbia, on March 29, 2006. This dialogue emerged further to a meeting of northern federal representatives which was organized to better coordinate federal support for northern B.C.…

The job of executive director of a parent center can be very rewarding. An executive director is in the position to bring change to the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Directors, assisted by the board of directors and key staff members, are in a position to create many new opportunities for designing and shaping the growth…

Early College High Schools (ECHS) are defined as "small schools where students can earn both a high school diploma and two years of college credit toward a bachelor's degree" (Early Colleges, 2005). ECHSs are designed as places of learning to help young people progress toward the education and experience they need to succeed in life and…

The purpose of this study was to describe the transition implementation experienced by rural elementary school district students entering the ninth grade at an independent school district, and to describe the ties to the school that exist among these same ninth grade students. This qualitative research involved interviewing 11 ninth grade…

In this article, the author shares the voices of adults whose lives have been changed by their enrollment in a set of innovative college readiness programs geared toward adults. These women and men have overcome obstacles between them and college that they believed were insurmountable--fear, inadequate academic preparation, lack of information…

When preservice teachers graduate and obtain their first teaching positions, they begin what education practitioners often call "the rookie year." To make their transition smooth and their first-year experience successful requires a concentrated effort on the part of administrators and experienced faculty members who serve as leaders and mentors.…

The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program provides the states and territories with funds to serve homeless individuals who are seriously mentally ill or dually diagnosed with serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders. As part of the mandate of the authorizing legislation, the General Accounting Office…

This guidebook is intended to assist parents of children with disabilities who will be returning to the state of Maryland because of Senate Bill 588, which strongly discourages out-of-state placements of individuals with disabilities or other special needs. The first section is on "getting ready" and provides a summary of Senate Bill…

An overview of academic matriculation with an emphasis on specific skills, concepts, and applications that can be used to develop an appreciation of success in higher education is presented. By defining the student as the center of planning, techniques are provided to translate ideas and abstract thought to real-world applications. Recommendations…

This report details findings of one year of a seven-year study of the relationship between pre-college enrichment experiences and the development of academic ethos, or scholar identity, in disadvantaged adolescents, both African American and European American. Under the auspices of the University of Tennessee, Project EXCEL examines the…

The difficult transitions of adolescence combined with the challenges of learning a new language and culture can be overwhelming for immigrant secondary school students. This Digest highlights three ways educators can help students through these critical transitions and provides brief descriptions of three programs that are working to facilitate…

This paper offers a structured framework for the transition of students with disabilities from middle or junior high school to high school. First, it outlines a transition decision tree to help decide whether a formal transition plan is needed. Next, the paper offers a 10-step set of practices appropriate for all students with disabilities in the…

This paper discusses the impact of Follow Through, a comprehensive program for low-income children in grades 1-3 and their parents previously enrolled in Head Start programs. The program was designed to help families make the transition from preschool to early elementary school. The paper notes that the longevity of Follow Through (over 25 years)…

This congressional hearing reviews the continuing implementation of sections 1142, 1143, and 1144 of Title 10, United States Code, and section 1418(a) of Title 38, the Transition Assistance Program to assist servicemembers separating from the Armed Forces as a result of downsizing. Testimony includes statements, prepared statements, and written…