scholarly journals School Performance, Accountability, and Waiver Reforms: Evidence From Louisiana

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Dee ◽  
Elise Dizon-Ross
Keyword(s):  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
School Reforms ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Differentiated Accountability ◽  
The Impact

States that receive federal waivers to the No Child Left Behind Act were required to implement reforms in designated “Focus Schools” that contribute to achievement gaps. We examine the performance effects of such “differentiated accountability” reforms in Louisiana. These Focus School reforms emphasized school-needs assessments and aligned technical assistance. These reforms may have also been uniquely high-powered because they were linked to a letter-based school-rating system. We examine the impact of these reforms in a sharp regression-discontinuity (RD) design. We find that, over each of 3 years, Louisiana’s Focus School reforms had no measurable impact on school performance. We discuss evidence that these findings reflect policy reform fatigue and poor quality of implementation at the state and local level.

Examining barriers and strategies for effective professional or interagency collaboration in secondary transition

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Magee ◽  
Anthony Plotner
Keyword(s):  
Independent Living ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Transition Planning ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
High School Outcomes ◽  
Service Delivery Systems ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Participant Role

BACKGROUND: For young adults with disabilities, post-high school outcomes in employment, higher education, and independent living are markedly worse than their peers without disabilities. As a result, legislation and research aimed at supporting transitioning students has increased. Further, numerous initiatives that better support youth and families have been implemented at the state and local level. Collaboration within and across service delivery systems has been identified as a critical aspect of transition planning and supports; however, evidence-based research related to the implementation and effects of collaborative partnerships is limited. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, we identify transition professionals’ perceptions of collaborative factors that facilitate and inhibit collaboration. METHOD: This study utilizes a single-state survey research design to examine the viewpoints of transition professions, specifically educators, Vocational Rehabilitation professionals, and community supports providers. RESULTS: Variance in perceptions were found among participant role groups. Specifically, educators as a whole report that time and workload barriers affect their ability to collaborate effectively. Further, findings indicate that ensuring individual collaborative team member responsibility is perceived as an effective strategy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may be applied to technical assistance providers when developing team-level evaluations to monitor current levels and support needs of collaborative transition planning teams.

Local Civil Society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Mann ◽  
David Dallimore ◽  
Howard Davis ◽  
Graham Day ◽  
Maria Eichsteller
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Focus Questions

Epdf and ePUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. Drawing on place-based field investigations and new empirical analysis, this original book investigates civil society at local level. The concept of civil society is contested and multifaceted, and this text offers assessment and clarification of debates concerning the intertwining of civil society, the state and local community relations. Analysing two Welsh villages, the authors examine the importance of identity, connection with place and the impact of social and spatial boundaries on the everyday production of civil society. Bringing into focus questions of biography and temporality, the book provides an innovative account of continuities and changes within local civil society during social and economic transformation.

Sodium menu labelling: priorities for research and policy

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Eleanore Alexander ◽  
Lainie Rutkow ◽  
Kimberly A Gudzune ◽  
Joanna E Cohen ◽  
Emma E McGinty
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Legal Databases ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Research And Policy

Abstract Objective: To understand the different Na menu labelling approaches that have been considered by state and local policymakers in the USA and to summarise the evidence on the relationship between Na menu labelling and Na content of menu items offered by restaurants or purchased by consumers. Design: Proposed and enacted Na menu labelling laws at the state and local levels were reviewed using legal databases and an online search, and a narrative review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted on the relationship between Na menu labelling and Na content of menu items offered by restaurants or purchased by consumers. Setting: Local and state jurisdictions in the USA Participants: Not applicable. Results: Between 2000 and 2020, thirty-eight laws – eleven at the local level and twenty-seven at the state level – were proposed to require Na labelling of restaurant menu items. By 2020, eight laws were enacted requiring chain restaurants to label the Na content of menu items. Five studies were identified that evaluated the impact of Na menu labelling on Na content of menu items offered by restaurants or purchased by consumers in the USA. The studies had mixed results: two studies showed a statistically significant association between Na menu labelling and reduced Na content of menu items; three showed no effects. Conclusion: Data suggest that Na menu labelling may reduce Na in restaurant menu items, but further rigorous research evaluating Na menu labelling effects on Na content of menu items, as well as on the Na content in menu items purchased by consumers, is needed.

Administrative Perspectives on the No Child Left behind Act (NCLBA) for Students with Disabilities in Rural Settings

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luann L. Purcell ◽  
Bill East ◽  
Harvey A. Rude
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
The State ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Education Leaders ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Impact

The impact of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) has provided a significant challenge and opportunity for administrators of special education services at the state and local levels. Leaders representing prominent professional organizations at both the state (National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc.) and local (Council of Administrators of Special Education, Inc.) education levels have identified advantages and barriers to successful implementation of the legal mandates. The most significant challenges for special education leaders and managers include: the requirements for adequate yearly progress for all learners, the provision of highly qualified special education service providers, and an adequate amount of attention devoted to all subgroups of learners. The unique difficulties for rural schools providing an appropriate education to all learners, including those with disabilities, are compounded by the effects of supplemental services, choice options, and the identification of adequate resources. The implications for the preparation of effective special education leaders and managers are identified within these parameters.

Will NCLB Improve or Harm Public Education?

2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN BORKOWSKI ◽  
MAREE SNEED
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
Public Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Federal Funding ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Adequate Funding ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Right

Drawing on their legal expertise and their experience working with public school districts, John W. Borkowski and Maree Sneed discuss the controversies surrounding the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). They acknowledge that its principal benefits lie in its recognition of the right of each child to learn and be assessed by high academic standards, as well as in the act's requirement that test results be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, and English language learner status. However, they critique the act's imposition of untested, federally mandated remedies driven by ideology rather than by scientific, educational research. These unproven, federally mandated remedies, along with inconsistencies in state and local implementation, are potentially more harmful than helpful. Finally, the authors examine the federal funding needed to implement additional tests, accountability measures, and the proven reforms necessary to improve educational outcomes. They argue that adequate funding has not been provided for these purposes, and that federal funds allotted for NCLB implementation should reflect the increases in resources necessary to improve public education and should be used for appropriate remedial measures designed and implemented at the state and local level. Borkowski and Sneed remain hopeful that with appropriate and consistent assessments, locally driven educational improvement measures, and adequate federal funding, NCLB can fulfill its promise to ensure educational equity for all students in American public schools.

scholarly journals Research on the Effects of Limitations on Taxes and Expenditures

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith I. Stallmann ◽  
Craig S. Maher ◽  
Steven C. Deller ◽  
Sungho Park
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
Economic Outcomes ◽  
Institutional Constraints ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Tax And Expenditure Limitations ◽  
Expenditure Limitations ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Impact

The literature on tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) is extensive and continues to grow as the impact of these institutional constraints on fiscal and economic outcomes continues to develop. In this survey, we review the literature of both state- and local-level TELs, in an attempt to provide an overview of their theoretical, operational, and empirical contexts. The study concludes a discussion of future TEL research needs.

scholarly journals An Overview of the Fiscal Decentralization in the Context of the State and Local Taxes in Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (516) ◽  
pp. 251-257
Author(s):  
T. V. Ponomarova ◽  
◽  
M. A. Komlieva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Local Level ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Local Taxes ◽  
Tax Revenues ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Legislative Changes ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
The Impact

One of the key elements of the analysis of the efficiency of reforms at the State level is the effectiveness and a shift in quantitative indicators of the relevant statistical categories. In Ukraine, the period after 2014 is considered to be the time of legislative changes and reforms. Among them, according to experts and politicians, the most successful is the decentralization reform. Its implementation is based primarily on changes in the taxation system both at the national and local levels. Accordingly, the main indicator of achieving the goals of fiscal decentralization can be considered changes in the structure of tax redistribution between the local and the State budgets. This article provides an assessment of the level and dynamics of the main types of taxes as to their proportion between different levels of fiscal centralization. In the course of the research, a comparative analysis of rates and monetary measurement of both the national and local taxes and fees was carried out. The authors account tax revenues in a geographical context and during the last eight years, which allows assessing the impact of the reform on the amount of taxes collected, identifying the leading regions, as well as tracking the taxation trends. As a result of the research, it is found out that fiscal decentralization since the beginning of its implementation has been a significant factor in the growth of tax revenues in local budgets. Nevertheless, personal income tax prevails among fiscal fillers of budgets at the local level, so the problems of unemployment and lack of jobs in times of coronavirus crisis pose a challenge for the financial security of territorial communities. Further research on the topic is considered promising given the effectiveness of combining the benefits of fiscal decentralization with the relevant instruments of the State support to increase the local budget funds.

How Does an Accountability Program that Targets Achievement Gaps Affect Student Performance?

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-74
Author(s):  
Steven W. Hemelt ◽  
Brian A. Jacob
Keyword(s):  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Achievement Gaps ◽  
School Reforms ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Core Requirements ◽  
Differentiated Accountability ◽  
Every Student Succeeds Act

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education granted states the opportunity to apply for waivers from the core requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. In exchange, many states implemented systems of differentiated accountability that included a focus on schools with the largest achievement gaps between subgroups of students. We use administrative data from Michigan in a series of regression-discontinuity analyses to study the effects of these school reforms on schools and students. We find some evidence that targeting schools for such reforms led to small, short-run reductions in the within-school math achievement gap. However, these reductions were driven by stagnant performance of lower-achieving students alongside declines in the performance of their higher-achieving peers. These findings serve as a cautionary tale for the capacity of the accountability provisions embedded in the recent reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, the Every Student Succeeds Act, to meaningfully improve student and school outcomes.

scholarly journals "Panchayats and Ward Committees; Assessing India's Decentralised Institutions "

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Ashwini Roy A.S
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Central State ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Implementation Problems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Local Levels

India adopted an ambitious reform policy of rural and urban decentralization in 1992, under which powers and finance are transferred to new local and regional bodies. These are governed by elected councils, in which women and members of disadvantaged groups/castes have a fixed quota of seats. While the legislation is still relatively new, some states have been able to make fast progress in decentralizing tasks, power and funds, while others have been much slower. This article presents an initial review of the decentralization efforts, exploring administrative, fiscal and political dimensions, and the implementation problems at central, state and local levels. Most emphasis is given to development at the local level: the panchayats in rural areas and the ward committees in urban areas, which is where the impact of decentralization should be felt. This article assesses whether increased proximity between citizens and government leads to increased transparency, accountability and participation.

The Impact of Missing and Error-Prone Auxiliary Information on Sparse-Matrix Sub-Population Parameter Estimates

Methodology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Rutkowski ◽  
Yan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Sparse Matrix ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Auxiliary Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Population Parameter ◽  
Conditioning Model ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Given a consistent interest in comparing achievement across sub-populations in international assessments such as TIMSS, PIRLS, and PISA, it is critical that sub-population achievement is estimated reliably and with sufficient precision. As such, we systematically examine the limitations to current estimation methods used by these programs. Using a simulation study along with empirical results from the 2007 cycle of TIMSS, we show that a combination of missing and misclassified data in the conditioning model induces biases in sub-population achievement estimates, the magnitude and degree to which can be readily explained by data quality. Importantly, estimated biases in sub-population achievement are limited to the conditioning variable with poor-quality data while other sub-population achievement estimates are unaffected. Findings are generally in line with theory on missing and error-prone covariates. The current research adds to a small body of literature that has noted some of the limitations to sub-population estimation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document