This paper provides an overview of Failure Free Reading, a program with the primary goal of providing a basic understanding of the reading process to students in grades K-12 with pronounced reading difficulty and move them into traditional reading programs. The program is targeted to and most effective with at-risk and English as a Second Language…

This paper provides an overview of the Waterford Early Reading Program (WERP), which is designed to shift teaching and learning away from remediation and failure to prevention, early achievement, and sustained growth for every student. WERP includes three levels of instruction: emergent, beginning, and fluent readers. It targets pre-K through…

This paper provides an overview of the Wilson Reading System, which teaches students word structure and language through a carefully sequenced, 12-step system that helps them master decoding and spelling. The program targets the needs of students at all levels (K-12), specifically students with language learning disabilities such as dyslexia;…

Schools and teacher education programs have begun to rethink preservice and inservice professional development to take into account the need for teachers to work effectively with students learning English. New approaches to teacher education are based on the belief that English language learners' access to challenging content can be enhanced…

The School of Indigenous Health Studies at the University of Sydney (Australia) developed the Cadigal Program to improve equity of access and participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The program allows lower scores on the University Admission Index or Tertiary Entrance Rank for Aboriginal applicants, who typically enter…

At this time, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is commemorating its 50th anniversary, under the slogan "children first." This annual UNICEF report reviews the organization's activities during 1995. An introduction by the executive director states that the report will give readers a sense of what UNICEF is doing with partners to…

Noting that the fragmented approach to early childhood education in the United States has resulted in enormous variability in program quality, this report describes characteristics of the "ecole maternelle," the preschool system in France. The report is based upon observations made by 15 American delegates who visited 11 preschools in…

Noting that many young children are excluded from child care settings because of their behavior and that early emotional and behavioral problems are often ignored or misidentified, this issue brief highlights emerging strategies to promote the emotional wellness of young children and their families, including those most at risk. The brief further…

This report is the result of the first consultative meeting of international and U.S. experts in the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). In addition to providing information on international developments in ECEC, a primary objective of the meeting was to identify possible policy, program, research, and demonstration ideas of…

This paper summarizes the first consultative meeting of international and U.S. experts in the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). The meeting was held at Columbia University on May 11-12, 2000, under the auspices of the Columbia University Institute for Child and Family Policy. In addition to providing information on international…

Noting that after-school programs are becoming an important developmental support for low- and moderate-income families and their children, this book describes the historical development of these programs, their current status, and critical issues facing after-school programs. Divided into historical eras, the book examines: (1) the evolution of…

The International Baccalaureate (IB), a 2-year diploma program for students aged 16-19, gives access to higher education on a world-wide basis; it also allows for various national education systems. The program is available in English, French, and Spanish. It is supervised by the IB organization, a non-profit educational foundation with…

This document is comprised of one issue of the "State Education Leader," published by the Education Commission of the States, an organization that helps state leaders identify, develop, and implement public policy for education that addresses current and future needs of a learning society. This newsletter issue focuses on the activities…

The Native American Higher Education Initiative (NAHEI), funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, has departed from the assimilationist approach typical of past efforts to improve higher education for Native Americans. NAHEI supports Native American educational leaders' efforts to articulate their vision of higher education, strengthen their…

This chapter is part of a book that recounts the year's work at the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi. Rather than an "elitist" laboratory school for the children of university faculty, the ECDC is a collaboration between the Corpus Christi Independent School District and the…