This paper examines the latest elementary, middle school, and district level Maryland student achievement and teacher experience data to argue that schools today are segregated not only along student backgrounds, but also along teacher expertise. The very students who need school the most to break out of the intergenerational cycle of poverty and…

The lack of human capital in Portugal has become a key obstacle to higher growth. This paper discusses the performance of education and training services in Portugal and shows that improvements are needed to narrow the significant human capital gap with other OECD countries. Despite progress in the past decades, Portuguese children spend…

This review of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in twenty OECD countries describes the social, economic, conceptual and research factors that influence early childhood policy. These include increasing women's labour market participation; reconciling work and family responsibilities on a more equitable basis for women; confronting the…

As part of a symposium on issues related to diversity and American education reform in the context of Goal 3 of the National Education Goals, this paper addresses the diversity of Hispanic populations in the United States and implications for Goal 3. Seven factors to consider in program planning include the following: heterogeneity of the Hispanic…

The current status of education for 1998 is presented as an indicator report, analyzing key data that measure the health of education, monitor important developments, and show trends in major aspects of education. The report first presents three "Issues in Focus": "College Access and Affordability"; "Progress in the Educational Achievement of…

A study of the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) surveyed 153 current access students in an initial interview and 131 in a follow-up interview; it also surveyed former access students who were in their first year of higher education (n=99 initially, n=76 follow-up). Students were interviewed by telephone near the beginning and the end of…

Developments relating to college admission standards, the quality of high school curricula, and academic achievement are discussed by a representative of the College Board. Attention is directed to College Board data on the following issues: the decline on verbal and mathematics Scholastic Aptitude Test scores; trends in the number of years that…

The Indian education oversight hearing of May 18 and 19, 1982, focused on federal responsibility for the education of Indians; Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) education services (including BIA elementary and secondary schools and contract schools); proposed transfer of the Indian Education Act, Title IV, program from the Department of Education to…

The master plan represents a comprehensive effort to plan for the future of higher education in the state. It presents the philosophy of the board of regents, and is intended as a guide for the governor, legislature, institutions, management boards, and the board of regents in making decisions. Four general concepts are reflected: (1) the board's…

Three policy statements of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) are presented. In "National Imperatives for Higher Education, 1982," attention is directed to strategies colleges and universities need to pursue to maintain and improve their quality, federal aid to education and research, access to higher…

Perspectives on eight regional conferences that were held to discuss implementation of the 1978 master plan for higher education in Pennsylvania are considered. The development of statewide systems of higher education and their increased reliance on statewide master planning is traced, and the history of coordination, governance, and planning in…

The year 1998 was one of immense change for adult learning and literacy, as significant new legislation was passed and the field headed more deeply into the mainstream. Along with these developments came greater demands for program accountability, expanded strategic alliances and partnerships, new instructional methodologies, changes in public…

This document analyzes main issues concerning adult learning and policy responses in Canada. Section 1 introduces a background report (available separately), discussions with stakeholders, and site visits. Section 2 addresses the general context of adult education (AE). Sections 3-6 cover four themes that structure the Thematic Review of Adult…

This country note analyzes main issues concerning adult learning and policy responses in Finland. Section 2 describes the political, economic, and social context in which adult learning fits. Sections 3-6 follow these four themes impinging on adult participation in learning: inadequate incentives and motivations; complex pathways between learning…

This report explores strategies for financing school-linked early learning initiatives. It is meant to help county agencies, school systems, and community organizations coordinate and expand their respective resources. The overall approach relies on partnerships and collaborations to meet the financing challenges faced by individual agencies and…