Evaluating School-Level Student Outcomes of a Systematic Tier 2 Framework

Targeted Tier 2 interventions are critical to supporting students with challenging behavior and decreasing the resources associated with highly individualized and intense interventions. This study extends findings from recent single-case design studies and case example applications of the Tier 2 Identification and Intervention framework with the first large-scale evaluation of school-level outcomes following district implementation. We employed a pretest–posttest design within one large urban school district ( N = 23,042 students) to evaluate school-level discipline outcomes for elementary schools who received training and coaching on the Tier 2 framework. Fidelity (i.e., Tiered Fidelity Inventory) and school-level demographics (e.g., poverty status, race) were entered as covariates into the generalized linear models. Results indicated statistically significant decreases in office discipline referrals and in-school suspensions for schools with adequate Tier 2 fidelity. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Development and Technical Adequacy of the District Capacity Assessment

The purpose of this article is to describe the methods and results used to establish the district capacity assessment’s (DCA) content validity, response process validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability. The DCA measures a district’s ability to support school-level implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Assessment results are then used to guide action planning. The DCA is grounded in the understanding that districts must develop knowledge and skills in the use of implementation science methods if they are to support successful use of an innovation. Specifically, three studies were conducted. The first study established the DCA’s content validity, that is, the extent to which the DCA represents constructs comprising district-level implementation capacity. The second study established the DCA’s internal structure, or the relationships among the items compared to the constructs being measured and how well the items measured the same construct. The third and final study assessed how the results of the DCA varied over time, thus establishing the instrument’s test–retest reliability. District Implementation Teams, researchers, or facilitators who use the DCA can be confident that the assessment is founded on research drawing from implementation science practices and methods.

State Wellness Policy Requirement Laws Matter for District Wellness Policy Comprehensiveness and Wellness Policy Implementation in the United States

Beginning with the school year 2006–2007, U.S. school districts participating in the federal Child Nutrition Programs were required to adopt and implement a local wellness policy (LWP) that included goals and/or standards for nutrition education, school meals, other foods sold or served in schools, and physical activity. A primary challenge with LWPs has been inconsistent implementation. This study examined whether state wellness policy requirement laws and district LWP comprehensiveness influence district level implementation, using law/policy data from the National Wellness Policy Study and school food authority (SFA)-reported district LWP implementation from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. Generalized linear and structural equation models were used, controlling for SFA and district characteristics. SFAs in states with wellness policy requirement laws (vs. those in states without) reported implementing significantly more practices (59.56% vs. 44.57%, p < 0.01). State wellness policy requirement laws were associated with district LWP comprehensiveness (coeff.: 0.463; 95% CI: 0.123, 0.803) and district-level implementation (coeff.: 1.392; 95% CI: 0.299, 2.485). District LWP comprehensiveness was associated with district implementation (coeff.: 0.562; 95% CI: 0.072, 1.053), but did not mediate the state law–district implementation relationship. This study highlights the important role that state laws and district LWPs can play in facilitating wellness policy implementation.

Analysis of Growth and Production of Kepok Kuning Banana in Two Soil Locations in Samberah Village, Muara Badak District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency

This study aims to determine the level of soil fertility on the growth and production of yellow Kepok banana in Samberah, Batu-Batu village, Muara Badak district, Kutai Kartanegara district. Implementation for four months from April to July 2020. The research design used a completely randomized design (CRD) repeated ten times. Fertility levels include former rice fields and former banana plant lands. The results showed that the land formerly planted with bananas was significantly different from the former land planted with rice in the circumference parameter. There was a tendency for the dominance of high parameter data, the number of tillers, and production on former banana plantations. Kepok Kuning banana plants do not choose the location of the land. So that the cultivation of yellow Kepok banana plants can be planted on former banana plantations sustainably. Keywords: Kepok banana, growth, production, soil

Safe Zones, Dangerous Leadership: Decolonial Leadership in Settler-Colonial School Contexts

Recent studies of Indigenous educational leadership have contributed instructive conceptual insights to decolonize public schools. Building on these theoretical insights, we investigate the organizational and policy constraints leaders face when attempting to enact decolonial strategies. Combining “safety zone theory” and Critical Policy Analysis, we examine how one Apsáalooke educational leader, Cummins negotiated and challenged institutionalized practices delimiting “safe Indian-ness.” These include: (a) transactional, policy inscribed relations between schools and Native communities; and (b) tepid district implementation of pro-Native legislation, such as policies expressing a commitment to preserving Native American cultures. We convey how Cummins made, unmade, and remade new policy meanings through local leadership practices, such as creating more humanizing Apsáalooke-defined spaces for community-school engagements and orchestrating local pressure to move district leadership to fulfill policy commitments to serve Native students. Data includes 18 interviews with Apsáalooke tribal members, education policy texts, and collaborative auto-ethnographic memos. Based on these findings, we develop the notion of dangerous leadership: a decolonial leadership praxis that challenges settler–colonial conceptions of safety and negotiates material, communal, and personal threats that such acts of subversion tend to provoke. We conclude by discussing implications for dangerous leadership amid nonideal and constantly shifting settler-colonial school contexts.

Business Improvement Districts and Contemporary Local Governance

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have become an increasingly prevalent method for contemporary public management and economic revitalization. BIDs are private non-profit organizations established primarily in urban areas to deliver public services and improve economic conditions by imposing additional assessments on property owners. This dynamic allows improvement districts to serve as quasi-public entities inextricably intertwined with local policy measures and government officials, while concurrently operating as private organizations. This paper begins by providing an introduction outlining the role BIDs play in modern local governance, followed by a brief overview of the historical progression of improvement district implementation in cities. The contemporary state of debate surrounding the efficacy and implications of BIDs on local governance is then reviewed, while discussing the impact of recent research on the field of study. It concludes by reflecting on proliferation of improvement districts as an entity for modern public service delivery, as well as suggesting future directions for research pertaining to BIDs.

KINERJA DAN PERBANYAKAN PARASITOID Tetrastichus brontispae PADA HAMA DAUN KELAPA : Brontispa longissima GESTRO (COLEOPTERA : CHRYSOMELIDAE) DI KABUPATEN ENDE-FLORES

Brontispa longissima Gestro (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the important pests that attack the palm plants in Southeast Asia. There is a reported decline in the productivity of palm plants when the pest attack reaches 30-40% with 5% of the plants attacked dying. B. longissima pest attacks plants at all stages of life, but its attack is most prevalent when plants reach the age of 4-5 years. The spread of pest B. longissima has ben reported in the district of Ende, Nangakeo and Ndona in 13 villages with a total area of the severe intensity of attacks. There have been attempted control measures with the release of natural enemies Tetratichus brontispae but not much success has be seen. This study aimed to find out: The dominant type of parasite in the district of Ende. T. brontispae were propagated and maintained in the laboratory using augmentation techniques, conservation or disposal was to be done. Colonies of the propagated parasite T. brontispae were then released in the field. The factors causing T. brontispae control failure, the population of B. longissima in the field, possibly the need for augmentation or conservation of T. brontispae and the right time to make the release of the parasite in the field was important. This research is expected to be useful as a basis in formulating and appropriate control program, in order to control the pest B. longissima in the field. The experiment was conducted from January to June 2010 at Nangakeo, Ndona and Ende district. Implementation of the research was divided into four stages: location survey, maintenance and multiplication of the pests B. longissima and T. brontispae parasite, parasite release and the evaluation of the result. The result was; that there are three types of parasites, B. longissima coconut leaf pest in Ende (sub Ndona, Nangakeo and Ende) the eggs of the parasite Trichogrammatoideanana spp., the larvae and pupae of the parasite Trichogrammatoideanana spp. and the ‘Asecodeshispinarum Boucek’. T. brontispae parasite being the most dominant parasite in each district with 10% level of larvae and pupae of 60-90%, biased sex male : vemale ratio. The pest capability of T. brontispae parasite in the laboratory was 6: 10 with a success rate of 90 %. The decline in the influence of parasite performance was unsynchronized between phases from the phase of the insect host-parasite in the field, the availability of insect host and time of release as well as climatic conditions not being conductive.

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN SISTEM INFORMASI PELAYANAN KANTOR KELURAHAN MENGGUNAKAN ANALISIS SWOT

Electronic-based Government System (SPBE) is the government's effort in developing an electronic-based government organization, so that there is an increase in the quality of public services. The system that runs in Sukabungah which is still manual and the lack of providing information to the community related to village services is an obstacle in improving the quality of the organization. Therefore the use of organizational development strategy analysis is very necessary for the Sukabungah village office to achieve maximum organizational strategy. In this study the method used in improving the quality of service is the SWOT analysis, which is used to develop the potential of the organization and to find out internal and external factors of the organization. In the SWOT analysis that has been carried out on Sukabungah village office it can be seen that Sukabungah village office is included in the quadrant I strategy which means supporting an aggressive strategy, therefore in developing an organization that will be achieved has a huge opportunity, so this can be a good development for Sukabungah sub-district. Implementation in the development of this SWOT analysis is by designing a village service information system where this system will assist the government in improving the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE) as well as assisting the urban village in improving the quality of the organization and facilitating the existing service system.

Evaluation of HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy at Nkhotakota District Council, Malawi

The evaluation was conducted to find out whether the stipulated objectives of the policy are being followed, and at the same time find out whether the envisioned results of implementing such policy system have been achieved so far. The evaluation was expected to provide an opportunity for mending shortfalls of the whole system that would affect its sustainability and usefulness.A total of 33 participants were interviewed in this study and came from the study area (Nkhotakota District Council Office). Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. All study respondents were purposively selected where respondents considered having relevant information and they were interviewed to obtain wide range of perspectives.Seven themes were identified; knowledge on policy, limited stakeholder involvement, poor HIV and AIDS programming, ethical issues, future perspective of the policy, Other Recurrent Transaction (ORT) allocation, and availability of HIV and AIDS Committee. On knowledge on policy, the sub-themes included; objectives well outlined, and poor updates on the policy. On limited stakeholder involvement, the sub-themes were; lack of ownership, ignorance of involvement, and not involved/limited involvement. On the Poor HIV and AIDS programming theme, sub-themes identified were; exclusion of activities in the District Implementation Plan (DIP) and lack of funds. There was one sub-theme on ethical issues and future perspective.We found that the Nkhotakota District Council HIV and AIDS at workplace policy is not functioning properly due to poor coordination and lack of funding. However, there are some positives identified such as existence of the coordinating committee and allocation of funds through ORT. Although the system has been functional for some years in well-established structures, lack of participation by some stakeholders, non-inclusion of HIV and AIDS activities in the DIPs underpin its sustainability