"Disrupting Disruption" shows how three racially and ethnically diverse school districts--Union NJ, Union City OK, and Roanoke City VA--have defied the demographic odds, boosting overall graduation rates while shrinking or eliminating the opportunity gap. These districts resemble many others in their student population. What makes them…

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. Over the years, the program has evolved to become a local afterschool model -- serving students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools in…

Postsecondary early awareness strategies are a fast-growing component of college access to attainment efforts. Broadly defined, these programs and policies encourage low-income and first-generation students to gain the information, skills, and resources they need to successfully take part in higher education. They focus on students in fifth…

This toolkit is designed to help community schools evaluate their efforts so that they learn from their successes, identify current challenges, and plan future efforts. It provides a step-by-step process for planning and conducting an evaluation at your community school site(s). The toolkit is a practical, hands-on guide that makes it possible for…

This article reports findings from an impact study of a 2-year postsecondary academic program offered in state prisons. Outcomes examined for participants during their 1st year of participation include performance on a standardized test of critical thinking skills, credit acquisition, achievement motivation, educational aspirations, personal…

Phase II provides a more detailed examination of classroom variables important to achievement in Oklahoma schools. Where Phase I addressed all nine of the Oklahoma essential elements using survey data, Phase II focuses on what occurs in Oklahoma classrooms primarily using data from principal interviews, classroom observations (on-site), and video…

The American higher education system considers itself a primary avenue to opportunity. As providers of broad access to postsecondary education, community colleges are arguably the most vital organ in that pulsing system. But there is a growing acknowledgment that access alone is no longer enough. "Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges…

Traditional schools are notorious for being isolated, inflexible, and reluctant to change. This lack of professional dialogue among educators remains a significant barrier to successful school improvement, resulting in teachers' practices becoming stagnant and student achievement suffering. The K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal at…

This report organizes information from the forum in terms of how Oklahoma fares in building students' transitions, what challenges it faces in improving transitions and what actions it can take to improve students' high school to college and career transitions. On February 17, 2006, 33 Oklahoma state educational and policy leaders participated in…

The purpose of this study was to explore levels of academic attainment and performance among students whose course placement test scores identified them as underprepared. It was expected that students who developed college-level reading skills (i.e., remediated) before attempting college-level work would ultimately perform at higher levels and…

Project ACT aims (1) to improve the class attendance of American Indian students, (2) to make students' school experience more relevant to life and work, (3) to assist Indian students to experience success in school by providing them with assistance relating to their academic programs, and (4) to provide supportive financial assistance to Indian…

Project "ACT" [Attendance, Career Awareness (Work Experience), and Tutorial Assistance] is basically designed to keep American Indian students involved in school by helping them to experience success in school and giving them a tangible reason for completing their education. Project objectives, which were determined from a needs…

The Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program is a system developed under the Oklahoma Education Reform Act of 1990 to assess the performance of public schools and school systems. "Profiles 1999" consists of state, district, and school components. Each component divides the information presented into three major reporting categories: (1)…

During the summer of 1975, a census survey of the membership of the Creek Nation was conducted to collect data on various selected social, educational, and economic characteristics of the tribal membership. Data were collected and analyzed on the household and individual family members residing in those households at the time. Data were obtained…

This document presents required summaries of detailed student assessment reports submitted by the following Oklahoma institutions: University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma, East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University,…