As the national debate about the prospect of free community college continues, state and local College Promise programs continue to expand with a mix of public and private funding aimed to provide debt-free education to students, usually gaining bipartisan support. Most states aim their programs at full-time students and/or recent high school…

The State of Maryland has always prided itself on being a leader in higher education. In 2012, the Career and College Readiness and College Completion Act (CCRCCA) set an ambitious goal: that 55% of Marylanders would have at least one degree by 2025. Reaching this goal requires increasing college access and completion across a wide variety of…

In 2012, the Credit When It's Due (CWID) initiative was launched by the Funders Collaborative to "encourage partnerships of community colleges and universities to significantly expand programs that award associate degrees to transfer students when the student completes the requirements for the associate degree while pursuing a bachelor's…

Many states are experimenting with mechanisms for making college more affordable while maintaining quality and access. This report examines promising or innovative state programs to improve college affordability and credential attainment. Many of these approaches show innovative thinking and bear watching to see if they result in meaningful…

This study investigates the influence of Green School designation on students' achievement in state-mandated standardized tests. Data were gathered 3 years pre- and post-Green schools designation, from test pass rates in reading and mathematics for Grade 5 and Grade 8 students, and from mathematics, English language arts, and biology scores for…

The Geospatial Applications Program at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), located five miles west of downtown Baltimore, Maryland, provides comprehensive instruction in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and global positioning systems (GPS). Geospatial techniques, which include computer-based mapping and remote…

The first 38 pages of the document describe the project designed to develop a coordinated, comprehensive system to deliver community services and continuing education services throughout Maryland higher education institutions. Discussed are project objectives, operations, and accomplishments, the final evaluation summary, the impact on the…

A report of a Community Resource Development (CRD) study in the Extension Services of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Missouri is presented. The three states represent different stages of development of CRD work, and are differently organized. The purpose of the study is to compare the three Extension organizations. Extension personnel of relative…

Describes study of rural or small town community development programs funded by the Small Town Emphasis Program. Outlines program factors including competition, innovation, needs assessment, low income involvement, networks, technical assistance, efficiency, strategy, and timing. Provides examples of six programs and recommends future development…

Profiles are provided for innovative public health activities that focus on the health of children in day care. All are considered to be models worthy of replication. Profiles depict (1) child care in Arizona; (2) child day care licensing in Connecticut; (3) safeguarding children in day care in Kansas; (4) paired state and local inspection in…

The experience of Maryland in implementing large scale assessment in the context of school reform is explored. The ways in which the state Department of Education has worked with divergent groups to build a continuing and strong school reform program are discussed. In 1987 Maryland's governor created a Commission on School Performance. This was…

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…

In January, 1988, a selected group of Maryland's corporate, union, and government leaders formed an advisory council in an effort to find new approaches to solving the state's child care crisis. By June, the group, which was called the Maryland Employers Advisory Council on Child Care, had produced a statewide plan and a budget that would make the…

This revised manual presents a timetable, proposals and evaluation procedures, and information on the designation, discontinuance, and inactivation of instructional programs for Maryland community colleges. After the first section presents a timetable for the proposal and evaluation of new and existing instructional programs, information on…

The results of a reivew by the United States General Accounting Office (GAO), this paper examines the Title XX Program of the Social Security Act and makes suggestions for its improvement. The Title XX Program provides funds to states to enable them to tailor social services programs to fit the needs of local communities. Such services are…