This report addresses the Virginia Community College System's (VCCS) core performance standards and measures for the years 2001-2002. There are four core indicators through which the VCCS is assessed. They are the following: (1) student attainment including academic and technical skills; (2) completion/graduation rate using first time, full-time…

This document presents the findings of a Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) survey that asked employers to assess the skills of specific graduates employed and to provide detailed information about the jobs held by those graduates. The results were utilized to inform curricula decisions and satisfy a state program review mandate. Surveys…

This report explores the literature on developing and sustaining high-performing schools. First, common characteristics of low-performing schools are described, such as the combination of community poverty, low expectations for student achievement, high teacher absenteeism, and high rates of teacher turnover. Schools that succeed despite poverty…

This report documents results of Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester Neighborhood Transformation (NT) Initiative, focusing on key decisions that helped shape the initiative. NT was one of the first attempts to systematically bring together diverse strands of thinking about comprehensive community change to overcome conditions that undermine…

This analysis investigates the relationship between the availability of daylight in classroom and performance of elementary and middle school students in three daylit schools designed by Innovative Design for Johnston County Schools in North Carolina. Results show that students attending daylit schools outperformed students attending artificially…

This study examines the perceptions of faculty, staff, and administrative participants involved in Northwest Community College's (Oregon) strategic planning process. Section 1 profiles the present-day community college, emphasizing changes in students and curriculum, increased competition, technological imperatives, and faculty development.…

Recently, charter schools have gained popularity with parents, students, and others as alternatives to public schools, but what are charter schools and what effects are they having? This Spanish-language Digest defines charter schools and clarifies some of the administrative and legal details surrounding such schools. The Digest also lays out some…

This report summarizes the problems schools are encountering as they try to use data to gauge the effectiveness of standards-based education, accountability efforts, and school reform. It provides an overview of the education market, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of available software, and describes systems used by 19 states. The article…

"Every Child, Every Promise: Turning Failure into Action" is the first national research that comprehensively measures the presence of the essential resources that correlate with success in both youth and adulthood. The report indicates that there is much work to do as a nation. It also shows how failure can be turned into action to improve the…

In an age of student accountability, public school systems must find procedures for identifying effective schools, classrooms, and teachers that help students continue to learn academically. As a result, researchers have been modeling schools and classrooms to calculate productivity indicators that will withstand not only statistical review but…

This report contains graduate employment data obtained from the 1999-2000 Student Occupational Follow-Up Survey at Parkland College (Illinois). Out of 550 graduates of occupational programs contacted during the summer after graduation, 382 returned surveys (response rate of 70%). Results indicate: (1) about 85% reported they are employed, an…

This book explores what makes a school excellent. Schools are considered excellent, "good enough," or bad, depending upon multiple factors; "good enough" implies that a school could be doing better. The use and misuse of testing and educational assessment are discussed. Academic assessment based on multiple measures is recommended over high-stakes…

Recently, charter schools have gained popularity with parents, students, and others as alternatives to public schools, but what are charter schools and what effects are they having? This digest defines charter schools and clarifies some of the administrative and legal details surrounding such schools. The digest also lays out some of the potential…

The document relates the results of the reports of Illinois' community colleges, which provide continuing evidence that the colleges and the Illinois Community College Board are pursuing the statewide goals for Illinois higher education. The Results Report provides information for each of the six statewide goals identified in the Illinois…

This report includes a brief statement regarding the progress of Arizona's community colleges during the past fiscal year and provides statistical information on finances, enrollment, employment, and educational programs. The document includes progress reports from colleges in Arizona's 10 community college districts. Each progress report presents…