This research brief provides community college educators who are facilitating program review with tips, suggestions, and resources to ensure a high-quality review that advances equitable student outcomes.

This brief describes the participatory action research by the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL)--built on the findings of an initial evaluation study of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) program review process--toward the development of an equity-centered rubric to advance learning and support for the state's…

Lesson study, especially when conducted with support from targeted resources, is often identified as a potentially effective means to support teacher learning. In this study, 80 school-based teams of educators, representing 80 classrooms of third- or fourth-grade students in the US, were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: lesson study…

The present dissertation features two studies utilizing secondary data to explore the impact of geography on access to and utilization of early developmental services, including Part C early intervention (EI) and autism diagnosis. Both studies examined the role of geography on a micro-level using geographic information system (GIS) based…

The community schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, they organize in- and out-of-school resources, supports, and opportunities so that young people thrive. A growing number…

Much attention has been focused on the importance of providing physical and mental health services to students in educational environments in recent years. Millions of students receive school-based health services, and for many students, schools are their first and only option to receive health care. State policymakers have a lot to consider in…

In this problem-based research project, the research team investigated the importance of school leadership with an emphasis on how school leaders can foster collective teacher efficacy through the implementation of school systems to increase student learning. This study will add to current research on school leaders' knowledge of collective…

In this problem-based research project, the research team investigated the importance of school leadership with an emphasis on how school leaders can foster collective teacher efficacy through the implementation of school systems to increase student learning. This study will add to current research on school leaders' knowledge of collective…

In this problem-based research project, the research team investigated the importance of school leadership with an emphasis on how school leaders can foster collective teacher efficacy through the implementation of school systems to increase student learning. This study will add to current research on school leaders' knowledge of collective…

Simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) entails significant changes to the FAFSA and the methodology for determining eligibility for federal financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year. The changes to the FAFSA form that were mandated by the Simplification Act delayed implementation and shifted the timeline for…

Amid the global pandemic, community colleges nationwide found themselves challenged like never before. More than 21 million Americans lost their jobs in March and April. How would this economic collapse affect college revenue streams, or fall semester enrollment? Would campuses even be open in the fall? Would students continue to register for…

Community colleges making the diversity, equity and inclusion journey need to recognize that one-size-fits-all support for students of color will not get the job done. To make everyone feel welcome on campus, leaders of two-year colleges need to ensure that they, as well as their faculty, staff and students, shed their assumptions, get out of…

Community colleges report general opening spring term enrollment figures to the Illinois Community College Board using a brief web based survey. These figures reflect student enrollments as of the end of registration for the Spring 2021 semester--usually the 10th day of the term. Illinois Community Colleges have implemented campus measures to…

Despite the research that exists about transfer students, there is limited literature on the services that colleges and universities provide to adult students who transfer from community college to university. The number of adult students who participate in postsecondary education continues to grow. The purpose for this mixed method exploratory…

Overall, compared to the Spring term one year ago, Illinois Community College System Spring 2023 opening headcount enrollments (+7.2 percent) and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments (+6.8 percent) had substantial growth. The opening enrollments reflect the end of the regular spring registration period which is usually the 10th day of class. The…