Every year, "Excelencia" in Education receives submissions for Examples of "Excelencia" from across the country. Our criteria for recognition are focused on a program's success backed by evidence that shows its effectiveness in serving Latino students in higher education. Since 2005, we have recognized over 280 different…

When students first enroll in college, they are required to demonstrate readiness for college-level work. Course placement depends on standardized assessments, and students who do not attain a satisfactory score are typically assigned to developmental (e.g. remedial) education courses. The theory behind this approach has been that remedial…

This report shares the perspectives and aspirations of 17 low-income and working-class students based on interviews the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) conducted over two semesters of their college journeys. The report identifies opportunities for policymakers and institutional leaders to support all students through completion,…

Learning consists of all the ways that youth acquire new knowledge, skills, values, and behaviors. It happens not just in school, but also through afterschool and summer activities, time spent with the family, and increasingly, through interaction with digital media. Broadening ideas about where, when, and how learning happens helps communities to…

Decades of research show that quality pre-kindergarten programs can make a critical difference in children's school readiness and their future educational success. Investments in early learning are proven to yield important short- and long-term benefits for students and school districts. Driven by this strong evidence, the movement to expand…

The CollegeKeys Compact[TM] is a national call to action to school districts, colleges and universities, state education agencies, and nonprofit organizations to identify, share and expand programs and practices that address the needs and challenges of low-income students and help them get ready for, get into and get through college. The College…

A collaborative study was conducted by representatives of the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, the University of Maryland University College, and Prince George's Community College to identify the training and professional development activities most desired by county business leaders. Surveys were mailed to 5,000 of the 15,125 businesses…

Using data provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and several Maryland state offices, this report examines Prince George's County in terms of age distribution, migration, and racial composition, and discusses the implications of an older, and increasingly minority county population for Prince George's Community College (PGCC). Following…

Parent involvement is widely acknowledged as a central component in both overall school success and the academic success of individual children. Recognizing this, the federal No Child Left Behind Act mandates that states, districts and schools make extraordinary efforts to enhance effective parent involvement. Now, more than six years after the…

Developed by a state-appointed committee comprised of college faculty, administrators, trustees, representatives of the Governor of Maryland and state legislature, this report addresses the mission, governance, and finance of the Maryland community colleges in light of current trends and future needs. Chapter I offers an introduction to the…

The study analyzed national and Maryland state data in an effort to predict the number of youth with severe disabilities leaving school who are likely to need adult support services. Lack of adult services was found to be a major barrier to community integration. (DB)

A series of projects were conducted in Maryland as part of an effort to develop a valid and reliable student database for planning, decision making, and Vocational Education Data System reporting; and a systematic and objective procedure to evaluate the quality of occupational programs in Maryland's community colleges. The projects had three…

The Interagency Plan for Children with Special Needs for Maryland residents has three major purposes: (1) to set priorities for developing or expanding services required by special needs children and their families; (2) to ensure that resources targeted for special needs children are administered effectively by increasing interagency coordination…

This document presents enrollment projections for Maryland public colleges and universities through the year 2009. There are headcount projections for each higher education institution, with breakdowns by full- and part-time undergraduates and full- and part-time graduate/professional students. Full-time equivalent (FTE) and full-time day…

This report highlights results from the 1999 Wingspread Conference on improving student achievement, a gathering of educators, leaders, and policymakers that opened a dialogue about barriers to full implementation of high standards for all students. Participants discussed five papers that examined these issues from top to bottom--from the…