"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Sitting at Home on Graduation Day: New Report Says that 1.2 Million Students From the Class of 2006 Failed to…

This broad introduction to adult and postcompulsory education offers an overview of the field for students, adult educators and workplace trainers. The book establishes an analytical framework to emphasize the nature of learning and agency of learners; examines the core knowledge and skills that adult educators need; discusses policy, research and…

This 2005 report on university research and knowledge transfer report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) on the collective efforts of universities with respect to research and knowledge transfer is the first periodic public report by the AUCC on the collective efforts of universities with respect to research and…

The transition to a knowledge-based economy is fueling the demand for well-educated, technically proficient workers--in all sectors, across a wide range of occupations and even for entry-level positions. New civic demands also call for a highly educated populace. Although more students today begin college than 20 years ago, greater proportions are…

This handbook is intended to help decision makers in developing-country governments and donor agencies in their efforts to utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve and expand teacher professional development (TPD) activities. To the extent possible in a brief work, the handbook combines a global perspective--including…

To ensure that all young children enter school in good health, ready and able to learn, and are socially and emotionally well developed, states are challenged by the State Early Childhood Comprehensive System (SECCS) Initiative to assure that services are coordinated, integrated and well managed. States must not only plan the delivery of services,…

This document examines employment and social policy in the European Union in 1999-2001. The document begins with an interview with Anna Diamantopoulou, the European Union's commissioner for employment and social affairs and the paper "Balancing Jobs, Cohesion, and Productivity" by Odile Quintin, the European Union's director-general for…

Developed from a review of research, policies, exemplary practices, and leading thinking, this guide addresses educational program design questions. The document is divided into two parts, Part One contains the recommended design features of career and technical education, including these 12 operational design features: learning context; audience;…

Outcomes of guidance can be assessed at these three levels: individual, where they are immediate; organizational, where they are intermediate; or societal, where they are ultimate. They may result in learning outcomes, school effectiveness, economic benefits, or social benefits. Various designs of outcome evaluation are described and…

People for Education has tracked the effects of funding and policy changes on Ontario's secondary schools since 2000. In 2002-03, 168 public and Catholic secondary schools were surveyed province-wide. Findings indicate that high school has become a harsher environment for students as schools have become larger and student-to-staff ratios have…

Current federal hiring problems result in processes that do not meet the needs of (1) agencies in achieving their missions, (2) managers in filling positions, and (3) applicants for a timely, efficient, transparent, and merit-based process. Federal human resources directors from the 24 major federal departments and agencies found time-to-hire a…

Educators can use this collection of diverse, thought-provoking perspectives from the best minds in the field to help make the best decisions possible for urban schools. The book's 26 chapters concisely synthesize research on a number of topics and link it to literacy instruction issues-including implications for local, state, and national…

This study of basic education in El Salvador was carried out between September and December of 2003 by a team of researchers. This publication has two parts: (1) The introduction which addresses the main findings of the study and proposes education policy priorities for the next reform effort; and (2) A summary of the original study of basic…

The "problem of the 21st century" is rapidly expanding diversity alongside stubbornly persistent status and power inequities by race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, citizenship and region. Extensive technological, economic, political and social changes, along with immigration, combine to produce a global community of great diversity…

This report summarizes findings from case studies that explored the implementation of the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how it affects school district progress toward addressing the behavioral needs of students. Results are also presented on the progress districts are making on: developing…