Across the country, urban school districts are opting to close under-enrolled schools as a way to consolidate resources. Motivated by a reported $1 billion deficit and declining enrollments in depopulating neighborhoods, the Chicago Board of Education voted in May 2013 to close 49 elementary schools and one high school program located in an…

When the Model Work Standards were first crafted more than two decades ago, they were built on the premise that quality child care jobs are the cornerstone of high-quality services for children and families. The intent of these standards is to make it possible for those who choose family child care as a career to reasonably and responsibly support…

Since children develop the critical language and early reading skills necessary to enter kindergarten between birth and age five, reading aloud is one of the most influential steps librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers can take to foster preschoolers' literacy skills. Early exposure to books heavily influences vocabulary knowledge, which…

Highlights events in the Girl Scout movement's 75-year history, noting parallels between Girl Scout camping and the growth and success of organized camping in the United States. Includes discussion of camping standards development, Lou Henry Hoover's support, adaptations during World War II, special programs and projects, and new facilities. (JHZ)

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of…

This guidebook for vocational planners and evaluators describes the many possibilities in evaluating short-term programs. It is intended for use by educators in postsecondary institutions developing and implementing short-term programs, those providing service under the Job Training Partnership Act, and employers who provide in-house skill…

This report answers questions commonly asked about bilingual education in the United States, by persons who may be puzzled and wish to have more information. The questions addressed are: (1) What exactly is bilingual education and why is it so important to Hispanics? (2) Other immigrant groups of the past did not need bilingual education. Why is…

This book, directed especially to individuals over age 30, takes a how-to approach to earning a college degree in the least amount of time for the least amount of money. The book explains how to use fast-track methods such as "testing out," which takes advantage of prior learning, and accredited shortcuts to earn an accelerated degree. The first…

The book examines approaches for developing supports for families with special needs. Following a brief introduction to the needs of families with disabled family members, a section considers basic questions to be used in determining the needs of individuals within the family and of the family as a whole. An example of short-term care services is…

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors which help successful equity initiatives that had been seeded in technical and further education (TAFE) institutes through short-term funding to take root and spread. The report concludes that many equity programs remain stuck in the seeding stage and fail to thrive and grow. It suggests that…

This document presents student work on the Science test which was completed as part of a Graduate Exit Exam (GEE) 21 assessment. The test is made up of forty multiple--choice items, four independent short?answer items, and one comprehensive science task. The science task consists of three short--answer items and one essay, all of which are based…

Written for those who want to write poems but are not sure how to start, this book presents 20 short exercises plus short pieces ("written talk") about poetry. The exercises in the book are designed to be completed in about 10 weeks. The types of poems in the 20 exercises include "found" and "headline" poems (which…

The effects of neurotoxins on the development of the central and peripheral nervous systems are discussed. Organophosphates, carbamates, organic solvents, and dioxin are highlighted. The effects of long- and short-term exposure are described. (CW)

A 4-lesson course on economic effects of population changes in rural small communities, developed for use by extension personnel in Idaho and throughout sparsely-populated areas of the Great Plains and western states, is designed to help community leaders improve their understanding of special economic problems of small communities. Use of the…

This paper poses a question of direct relevance for welfare administrators, program operators, and policy makers: What management practices, program strategies, and local conditions are key to running effective welfare-to-work programs? To address this question, the present analysis links detailed measures of program characteristics to valid and…