Over the past ten years, probation departments across the state of California have undertaken five major initiatives aimed at juvenile offenders and at-risk youths. Although these initiatives were concomitant with reductions in juvenile arrests and other positive outcomes, we cannot definitively attribute such observed statewide trends to these…

This overview of recent state juvenile justice reform measures and identifies issues and trends associated with state juvenile reform initiatives. The report explains some of the more punitive measures, such as new criminal court transfer authority and expanded juvenile court sentencing options. Many states have balanced these steps with enhanced…

This guide was developed to assist families and service providers in Connecticut with nutrition services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Individual sections provide information about the following topics: laws and regulations related to nutrition services; eligibility for the Connecticut Birth to Three System and nutrition; nutrition…

This guide outlines 10 basic steps for policymakers and practitioners interested in creating Second Chance Homes in their areas. Second Chance Homes provide stable, nurturing environments for teen families with access to child care, education, job training, counseling, and advice on parenting and life skills. The guide is based on interviews with…

The first section of this paper presents the results of Ohio's 1999-2000 Annual Education Technology Assessment. Topics addressed include: the assessment methodology, progress toward eight SchoolNet goals, and better state and local decisions; overall progress toward building the infrastructure and fostering the growth of new practices; and needed…

The Arizona Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) was developed using the Stanford 9 Achievement Test (SAT9) scores for the period from Spring 1998 to Spring 1999. The Research and Policy Division of the Arizona Department of Education matched students who took the SAT9 in Spring of 1998 and 1999. On average, 89% of students were matched per grade…

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a program of prevention, monitoring, and control that offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce hazardous pesticide use. IPM is intended to establish a program that uses cultural, mechanical, biological, and other non-toxic practices, and only introduces least-hazardous chemicals as a last…

This digest is designed to provide campus leaders with an up-to-date, "bird's eye" view of key issues affecting state colleges and universities. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities conducted is annual State Issues Survey of the Council of State Representatives in 2002 and received 44 responses from 61 college and…

This study examined states efforts to retain children in their State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Data were obtained during spring and summer of 2000 through telephone interviews with state program officials from eight states selected based on a variety of demographic and programmatic variables; the states were Alabama, California,…

In 1987, the first Commission on the Future of Independent Higher Education charted a path for independent colleges and universities in New Jersey. Many changes have taken place in New Jersey higher education in the 15 years since this "Boyer" report was issued, and in 2000, a new Commission was formed to review progress since the 1987…

The approval of Proposition 301 by Arizona voters in November 2000 was a significant step toward a new foundation for the state's economic future by providing a long-term funding stream for science and technology investments. This new sales tax enabled the state to create an economic development strategy appropriate for the knowledge economy. This…

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college-level courses and receive credit at both institutions toward the completion of a college degree. Such programs are also referred to as concurrent enrollment, joint enrollment, or dual credit. This brief discusses the advantages and drawbacks of dual enrollment programs. Currently,…

The enabling legislation required a review of the Technology Workforce Development Grants program by an external expert evaluation team on a biennial basis. This program was designed to increase the number of engineering and computer science graduates and the number of collaborations among higher education institutions and private companies. At…

The movement to advance directors and administrators of early childhood programs is taking hold in many communities and states. Focusing on critical elements and updates from across the nation, this packet provides resources, prototype information, and guidelines for people in the process of setting up director credentialing programs. Sheets…

To provide a baseline for assessing how welfare reform affects child welfare agencies, this paper reviews the challenges that state child welfare systems face, and how states respond to these challenges. Information in this paper is based on studies of the 13 focus states included in the Urban Institute's New Federalism project. In each state,…