This Spring 2003 issue of the "Learning Point," the North Central Regional Educational Lab's (NCREL) magazine, focuses on the theme "A Call for Evidence Responding to the New Emphasis on Scientifically Based Research." Articles and materials in the issue are: "Wake-Up Call: Facing the Challenge to Use Scientifically Based…

In the report entitled "Educating School Leaders," Arthur Levine (2005) criticizes leadership preparation programs as "inadequate to appalling," citing, among other issues, the proliferation of off campus programming, the weakening of standards, and an unwillingness to engage in any measure of "systematic…

This report from the Legislative Office of Education Oversight (LOEO) focuses on Head Start implementation in Ohio, describing its growth over the last 8 years, services provided to children and their families, costs, program quality and how it is monitored, and the challenges faced in expansion. After an extensive summary, chapter 1 describes the…

"The Achiever" is a monthly newsletter designed expressly for parents and community leaders. Each issue contains news and information about school improvement in the United States. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) $30 Million in Grants Awarded to Help Struggling Readers: Spellings Announces First Round of…

A growing number of parents are choosing to educate their children at home. This study explores the who, why, and how of home schooling from the parents' perspective. Quality of education and religious values were the two most frequent reasons for home schooling. Parents stressing educational quality were more likely to use textbooks; parents…

In an era of continuing developments in science and technology, teachers are faced with an increasingly challenging task of helping K-12 students become and remain scientifically literate. Effective science instruction involves activation of prior knowledge, hands-on learning, and continuous reflection. Technology has the potential to play a…

Program Excellence, an effort to reward and enhance high-quality academic programs at Ohio colleges, is described. The criteria for defining and determining excellence, the process used to select programs, the results of the review process, and the impact of the program are presented. (Author/MLW)

The use of selective, as contrasted with across-the-board, state funding as an incentive for program improvement in higher education institutions is discussed, and the experiences of four states (New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee) are examined for forces that work against the long-term feasibility of this approach. (Author/MSE)

At the request of Ohio's top government and education leaders, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, National Association of Charter School Authorizers, and National Alliance for Public Charter Schools have issued a report seeking to strengthen the state's charter school program. Among its 17 recommendations are calls for closing low-performing charter…

A project was conducted at the Northwest Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Resource Center in northwest Ohio to establish workplace education indicators of program quality with specific measures and standards. Research was conducted through a survey of other states to determine their status in the development of workplace…

Borland and Howsen (1992) showed that public schools' market structure affected academic performance. This paper examines the effects of neighboring school districts' performance on that of six metropolitan Ohio school districts, modeling student achievement as a function of control variables and competition from neighboring school districts.…

The fight over school funding in most states involves a long battle in the courts that may span several years and never have a definitive endpoint because resistance to adequate funding of public schools appears to be endemic to government processes. The "DeRolph" case, first filed by the plaintiffs in December 1991, is one such legal…

This report describes the Community Child Care Services and Funding Plan, which is a plan for future collaborative child care efforts in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The plan was developed through the Child Day Care Planning Project in Cuyahoga County. The first section of the report provides an introduction, which is followed by an overview of the…

At these hearings, the following witnesses presented testimony: Dr. Thord M. Marshall, superintendent of education, Savannah, Georgia; Dr. Elbert D. Brooks, director, Metropolitan Public Schools, Nashville, Tenn.; Dr. Raymond Shelton, superintendent of schools, Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida; Dr. John M. Franco, superintendent of schools,…

Ohio has begun statewide use of performance indicators in higher education to strengthen selected university programs, attract better faculty and students, leverage additional federal and private financial support, increase Ohio's visibility, and help higher education resolve state and broader social problems. (MSE)