The data presented in this combined report--"Rankings & Estimates"--provide facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education. As one might expect in a nation as diverse as the United States--with respect to economics, geography, and politics--the level of commitment to…

Between July 1981 and November 1982, the United States experienced the worst economic recession of the post-World War II period. In response, Congress in March 1983 enacted the Emergency Jobs Appropriations Act, whose objectives were: (1) to provide productive employment for jobless Americans; (2) to hasten or initiate federal projects and…

A study of magnet schools revealed that they have become a significant part of the nation's efforts to desegregate schools. Most magnet schools are in urban areas and offer a distinctive curriculum. School districts began employing magnet schools in the 1970s to help desegregate schools. The federal government has assisted magnet schools with…

In recent years, a consensus has emerged on the need to improve America's high schools, especially for students who struggle academically. At every level--from the federal government to the local school board--policymakers are proposing new initiatives to raise standards while helping more students graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for…

Traditionally, employment research related to people with disabilities has largely targeted the "supply-side"--employee-focused studies of personal and environmental factors that influence employment. These include age and gender, degree of impairment and work history, and access to housing, transportation, and health insurance. Although…

The results of a study conducted during the period August 1982 to January 1983, this overview of federal agency experiences with microcomputers represents a synthesis of information gathered from interviews with staff of one state and 12 federal agencies, informal discussions, and examination of the available literature, agency documents, and…

Intended to help students and teachers make the best use of the companion "Current Issues" text, this teacher's guide provides a variety of instructional activities. It includes lesson plans for each chapter in the text, including the introduction, that may be used exactly as written or modified. The lesson plans use instructional strategies that…

The General Accounting Office examined the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) leadership role in addressing critical human resource problems and preparing the government to meet future challenges. Federal managers, OPM employees, and federal personnel officials were surveyed to study federal government problems in hiring, managing, and…

This Wisconsin state test booklet contains 110 multiple choice questions that measure civic literacy. The questions require knowledge of: (1) the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence; (2) the three branches of the U.S. government; (3) the structure of Wisconsin's government; (4) U.S. political parties and…

In response to ongoing concern about unacceptable levels of AOD (alcohol and other drug) use on campuses, in 1998 Congress authorized the Department of Education to identify and promote effective prevention through a model grants program. In 1999, OSDFS (Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools) launched an important component of the Department's…

The National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (NCLD-Youth) is one of 15 Youth Resource, Information, and Training Centers focused on empowering youth and emerging leaders with developmental disabilities. The NCLD-Youth is a youth-led center with partners in the District of Columbia as well as in the states of Florida and New…

This report presents findings from the third and final year of the Reading First Impact Study (RFIS), a congressionally mandated evaluation of the federal government's initiative to help all children read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 established Reading First (RF) and mandated its…

The current interaction among federal libraries and information centers was examined and assessed to determine ways to improve the coordination of resources and services among federal libraries and to increase cooperation between federal and non-federal libraries in order to meet national, state, and local information needs. The more than 400…

The federal government has played a role over the years in providing resources to school districts, colleges and universities, and research and technical assistance centers for the purpose of transitioning students to English. The evolving educational standards movement and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) have begun to reshape how the federal…

New Zealand's Official Information Act (OIA) has been in force for almost two decades. During these years, there has been little research published about how citizens use the legislation or how agencies have responded to requests made under the Act. The aim of this project is to produce basic research data from a range of agencies to quantify use…