Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

This paper examines the effect of a formal evaluation process upon educational change--specifically, the adoption of innovative reading programs and practices--at different organizational levels of implementation. Because of the size of the project (62 school systems, 142 designated schools, three sets of categorical funded projects), the…

A project in Louisiana surveyed local vocational education programs and local application plans and compared them to assessed needs, skill levels, and quality program standards. The project was implemented through nine strategies, which included project staff development, assessment of local plans, needs assessment, development of an assessment…