A recent independent evaluation by WestEd of Learning Forward's What Matters Now Network looked at the ways in which a structured, facilitated network provided support for state-level coalitions working with districts, schools, and educators to improve instruction and make progress toward achieving content standards. The network was facilitated by…

An innovative system-building initiative known as the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) is transforming U.S. STEM education through cross-sector partnerships between schools, afterschool and summer programs, libraries, museums, and businesses, among others. Although logic models exist to describe how SLEs can make positive…

This article discusses the use of community partnerships to produce civic engagement. In two undergraduate courses during the Fall 2016 semester, students created products that met the stated needs of local nonprofit organizations. Students indicated a positive reaction to their experiences in qualitative assessment instruments, and the community…

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 technical brief describes updates to a database of dropout prevention programs and policies in 2006/07 created by the Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands and described in the Issues & Answers report, "Piloting a searchable database of dropout prevention programs in nine low-income urban school districts in the…

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…

The evaluation report addresses a two-year effort of an originally planned three-year project designed to plan, pilot test, and implement a K-14 career education program into the North Kingstown, Rhode Island public schools. During the two years of the project, administrative and community support diminished until funding for the third and final…

In early 1994, Central Falls, Rhode Island's Kids First, a collaborative partnership between the Central Falls School Department and local community leaders, launched a pilot universally-free school breakfast program (UF-SBP) called "Operation Breakfast." One of the goals of Operation Breakfast was to improve SBP participation; school…

Evaluates a point-of-purchase nutrition education program in Pawtucket (Rhode Island). Uses consumer interviews to evaluate the effect of awareness of shelf labels on purchase behavior. Reports increases in shoppers' ability to identify correct shelf labels and in the number of shoppers who were encouraged to buy the identified foods. (FMW)

This report on the 1969-70 Title I programs in Rhode Island is based on the individual evaluations prepared by 40 local education agencies. There are nine major parts which include specific data requested by the Office of Education. Among the information presented are basic state statistics (enrollment and expenditures), effect upon educational…

This report contains a literature search that was prepared as part of a statewide study undertaken to gather, from all relevant groups of professionals and lay representatives, statements of elements thought to be critical to the operation of successful Title I reading programs. Following an introductory chapter, four chapters provide information…

A third-party evaluation was conducted of the first year of an experience-based career education project (EBCE) in Rhode Island. Three sources of evaluation information were used: evaluator observations, the Community Resource Questionnaire, and the Student Skills and Attitude Inventory. Because the actual project implementation was for just one…

The Rhode Island Experience-Based Career Education (EBCE) project served high school juniors and seniors in seven communities by offering career exploration activities, career counseling, and academic instruction. (The academic component was not implemented in all participating schools.) The project sought to increase the career maturity, career…

Evaluation was conducted of the first-year operations of a project conducted with the Cranston and Central Falls School Departments (Rhode Island) which allowed eleventh and twelfth grade students to participate in experience-based career education (EBCE) as an alternative to the regular school program. Project objectives (and evaluation) focused…

This evaluation attempts to measure the extent and effectiveness of ESEA Title I programs designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged children and apprizes the public and the legislature of program outcomes. In keeping with USOE requirements for evaluating Title I programs, this document is constructed of (1) responses to USOE probes by…