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…

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus presented a major challenge to health departments, schools, and other community partners to effectively vaccinate large numbers of Americans, primarily children. The use of school-located vaccination (SLV) programs to address this challenge led health departments and schools to become creative in developing models for…

As the push for economic stimulus has states contemplating economic development in new and different ways, Wisconsin may find it helpful to note the unconventional efforts of its neighbors. who have positioned themselves to reap potential long-term economic benefits from high quality early childhood care and education. Business leaders in…

High-quality out-of-school-time (OST) programs have a positive effect on youth development, but many cities have found it difficult to address the challenges of expanding and improving the quality of programs offered to underserved and high-need students. In response, The Wallace Foundation sponsored an initiative to help five cities increase…

High-quality out-of-school-time (OST) programs have a positive effect on youth development, but many cities have found it difficult to address the challenges of expanding and improving the quality of programs offered to underserved and high-need students. In response, The Wallace Foundation sponsored an initiative to help five cities increase…

A plan for a long term tracking system for handicapped children (birth to 5 years old) in Illinois is considered. The plan, based on agreements among five state agencies, could be used in a variety of ways, including for direct client care, statistical recordkeeping, and service evaluation. Advantages of an interactive system are identified, and…

The report of the Illinois commission on Children focuses on the need for developing a comprehensive service plan for emotionally disturbed (ED) children (birth through 21). Emphasis was placed on a continuum of services from prevention to treatment. Findings and recommendations are listed on seven topics (sample suptopics in parentheses):…

University-community partnerships are widely recognized as critical to the success of community research and advocacy work but difficult to form and sustain. This article will describe a unique facet of that partnership, namely the collaboration between mental health clinicians and community consultants, a partnership that our data suggest was a…

The Better Care for the Babies (BCTB) Project was initiated in April 1989 to help states improve the quality of infant and toddler child care, especially for low-income children whose parents are in the labor force and/or making the transition from welfare to work. The BCTB Project initiated ongoing, negotiated, goal-directed technical assistance…

The Illinois Model Early Childhood Parental Training Program was implemented to help parents develop skills needed to foster their children's health and enhance their children's readiness for school. This report presents a summary and analysis of the annual evaluation data obtained from school districts participating in the program for the 1990-91…

Some of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical impediments to sound evaluations of jail-based drug-treatment programs are described. The focus is on a program in a large urban jurisdiction that illustrates difficulty in tracking clients and coordinating agency responses. Some suggestions are offered to help future researchers. (SLD)

Panels comprised of representatives of school administrators, classroom teachers, school boards, and teacher education institutions identified educational issues and potential solutions to them. The panels deliberated on the areas of: (1) recruitment into teacher preparation; (2) assessment of teacher preparation programs; (3) recruitment and…

Families undergo difficulties in trying to negotiate the labyrinth of early childhood services offered in Illinois. Because of the multiplicity of programs and scarce funding, many children and families do not receive the services they need. Coordination among programs and services is also limited. This paper offers background on how the…

This report to the governor and legislature of Illinois concludes that the state currently has no comprehensive coordinated system of early intervention services for children and families needing such services. The report is in question and answer format and covers federal and state activities in early intervention, a definition of early…

In 1986, Illinois implemented the Children at Risk of Educational Failure preschool program. By the 1991-1992 school year, almost 25,000 children were enrolled in the program. This document reports on accessibility to, and community involvement in, the program, and instructional and evaluation practices used in the program. The section on…