Is a developing country like Nigeria information rich or information poor? The first impression is of scarcity, but a closer examination reveals unexplored riches. There is a wealth of information in the oral tradition, but it is not found in schools and libraries. There is information in libraries, but language and reading level make it…

Historically, libraries have been an important component of the educational process, contributing to the success of the educational mission of schools. Education reform has prompted increased attention to the role school library media centers might play in the expanding role of computer- and technology-based education. However, policymakers have…

This issue brief explores emerging efforts to meet the needs of infants and toddlers in low-income families. It highlights general strategies that states and localities can use to promote the healthy development of infants and toddlers in the context of promoting parental economic self-sufficiency. These strategies are illustrated with examples of…

Acknowledging the changes that poor and homeless students have experienced, this curriculum guide uses change to focus on the challenges found in transitioning into a new environment. The premise underlying the curriculum is that the forces that shape human life are constantly changing, and in order to give meaning to these changes, students must…

This University of Maryland, College Park student handbook is intended as a reference to help academic achievement program (AAP) students successfully navigate the campus and the academic services available. Sections of the handbook cover the history, philosophy, and mission of the AAP; describe a summer transitional program; list the five program…

This report presents findings regarding design and implementation of school-to-work (STW) efforts in Job Corps Model Centers. Following an introduction, Chapter two argues that Jobs Corps constitutes a natural context for implementing STW systems because its traditional practices to some degree provide a solid foundation on which to lay STW…

A study assessed the formulas used to distribute funds to the states under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) 1998. It identified mismatches that might exist between the formulas and WIA's program goals and populations served and identified where the formulas are most vulnerable to wide fluctuations in funding levels from year to year. Issues…

The Tasmanian (Australia) Office of Youth Affairs and Family conducted consultations concerning issues impacting young people living in rural and isolated areas. Eight workshops specifically for youth were attended by 123 young people. Five community forums were attended by 25-30 participants each. The difficulties of living in isolated situations…

A consortium involving the Grayson County (Virginia) school system, Wytheville Community College, and Radford University was developed to address the teacher shortage in rural, economically depressed Grayson County. Using existing courses, a curriculum was developed that allows a student at Grayson County high school to obtain as much as 32 hours…

This final report describes completion of the RAISE (Reaching American Indian Special/Elementary Educators) program and how the goals and objectives presented in the original proposal were met from September 1, 1998, through June 30, 2002. The project was designed to prepare Navajo and non-Navajo students to earn dual certification in special…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) surveyed officials in nine federal agencies regarding the following aspects of the employment and training programs they administered: funding levels; types and numbers of participants; services provided; and outcome measures. The 9 agencies were administering 44 programs providing a range of employment and…

This publication, one of a series designed to help policymakers and TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] agency personnel, offers a baseline for understanding the challenge of serving persons who are being forced off welfare roles but who are hard to place in employment. The following topics are covered: (1) policy issues (who should be…

This paper reviews the literature on under-identification of minority children, especially Hispanic children, for education as gifted and talented students. It begins with definitions of terms such as "gifted and talented" and also such terms as "bias" and "culturally diverse." Some characteristics of gifted Hispanic children are then listed as…

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) makes it possible to build human capital resources by providing employment services and training to youth and adult dislocated workers. Such services are particularly needed in the rural South, where those affected by welfare reform have few job skills or educational credentials. WIA calls for the…

New York Networks for School Renewal (NYNSR) is a 5-year collaborative project begun in 1995 as part of an effort to revitalize U.S. schools through public-private partnerships. Four New York organizations with years of experience in public education reform have joined in the NYNSR collaboration. An outcomes evaluation collected and analyzed both…