Increased rates of student success and persistence have been positively linked to community colleges with student-centered cultures. A student-centered culture is one in which policies and practices promote a consistent message of concern and respect while expecting high standards of academic accomplishment. Developing a student-centered culture…

A 2007 report by Jobs for the Future concluded that the United States "has miles to go to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in degree production, strengthen the domestic workforce to meet demand for higher skills and knowledge, and remain internationally competitive." That the United States must educate more of its citizens for an…

This article describes the Applied Engineering Technology (AET) Career and Educational Pathways Program, which helps local manufacturers find quality workers. The program features 32 high schools, three community colleges, and 10 four-year institutions offering an integrated regional system of applied engineering education. The goal is to enroll…

In 2005, the five community colleges in poverty-stricken eastern Arkansas galvanized to develop capacity to train a skilled workforce, increase educational access and attainment, and transform the regional economy. The Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium (ADTEC) includes Arkansas Northeastern College, Blytheville; East Arkansas…

Nearly 60% of students with disabilities who attend postsecondary institutions attend community colleges. Individuals with disabilities paralleling their peers without disabilities need the postsecondary education opportunity to develop vocational skills, the time to mature, and the experience of living with others. A transition program, a K-12…

Community college Quality Enhancement Plans (QEPs) typically focus on improving student outcomes. QEPs are in many ways analogous to the campus improvement plans (CIPs) that have become standard practice for virtually all K-12 schools. K-12 campus and district leaders often seek school improvement ideas from other K-12 districts. However, much can…

Using a teacher recruitment and preparation model, a unique partnership between PK-12 schools, a community college, and a university is examined. The focus is on the training and credentialing of future educators, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, in an efficient and quality manner to assist in meeting the current PK-12 teacher…

The "good fruit, bad fruit" parable provides a metaphor for sound accountability. If one wants to assess the source of problems to determine quality, then one must look at what has been produced. Unfortunately, many researchers and practitioners have examined the fruit without determining the quality of the tree. This failure has allowed…

This year people celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, "Brown v. the Board of Education." A half-century after the Supreme Court found that segregated schools are "inherently unequal," there is much research to support the Court's decision. However, 2004 finds the U.S. educational system becoming more segregated…

Today, educational reform equals testing. This over reliance on testing has come about because of a belief that a paper and pencil or computer-based test can truly measure student learning and that results can be used for punishment, reward, and accountability purposes. This simplistic approach to reform is viewed as a quick fix to long seething…