• Center for Education Reform This site provides action paper, testimony, and issue updates regarding charter schools

• Michigan Resource Center for Charter Schools Maintained by Central Michigan University, this resource center provides various services as a clearinghouse for information on charter schools.

• Academic Development Institute This site provides families and schools information and tools to enhance student learning. It serves as a hub, housing four other websites—Illinois Parents as Teachers, Solid Foundation, Alliance for Achievement, and Champions Together—that allow parents, educators, and students a look at what is going on in the world of education. Illinois Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an early education and support program that begins prenatally—the onset of learning—and extends to age 5. Solid Foundation is a blueprint to build a school community, engaging parents in the learning lives of their children, preschool through eighth grade. The Alliance for Achievement model for continuous school improvement is built on three principles: deciding, learning, and connecting. Champions Together provides training for Family Liaisons—paraprofessionals who help parents understand special education processes and provide support for them—and provides curricula for courses for parents of children in special education.

• Children's Defense Fund exists to provide a strong and effective voice for all the children of America, who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. The organization particularly focuses on the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. Its ultimate goal is to educate the nation about the needs of children and encourage preventive investment in children before they get sick, drop out of school, suffer family breakdown, or get into trouble.

• The Children's Partnership is a national nonpartisan organization that provides timely information to leaders and the public about the needs of America's 70 million children. Online information focuses on ways to engage all Americans to benefit children.

• Global Youth Action Network is an incubator of global partnerships among youth organizations. Its mission is to facilitate youth participation and intergenerational partnership in global decision-making; to support collaboration among diverse youth organizations; and to provide tools, resources, and recognition for positive youth action.

• National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education NCPIE is dedicated to developing effective family/school partnerships in schools throughout America. Its mission is to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education and to foster relationships between home, school, and community that can enhance the education of all our nation's young people. The organization's online resources include a set of guidelines for creating effective family-school partnerships.

• National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the United States working exclusively on behalf of children and youth.

• Parents Action for Children This site provides information about early child development and resources for parents and caregivers.

• Sesame Workshop This site provides fun, educational activities based on the television program Sesame Street for both children and parents.

• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) is a national voluntary organization of colleges and universities that prepare the nation's teachers and other educational personnel. Located in Washington, DC, AACTE is the leader for innovation in teacher education. AACTE's more than 740 members include liberal arts colleges, state universities and research institutions, and various educational organizations. Combined, its member institutions produce more than two thirds of new school personnel each year. As the sole national organization representing the institutional interests of collegiate-based teacher education, AACTE gathers and disseminates data, proposes and analyzes public policy initiatives, supports professional advancement and networking, and represents the teacher education community before state and national governments.

• American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Founded in 1865, the AASA is the professional organization for over 14,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. The four major focus areas for AASA are: improving the condition of children and youth, preparing schools and school systems for the 21st century, connecting schools and communities, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of school leaders.

• American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the most prominent international professional organization with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application through encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results. 

• American Federation of Teachers (AFT) site provides information about the activities of the AFT's membership as it strives for quality education and human services as well as economic and social justice.

• ARISE Life-Skills Since 1986, ARISE, a not-for-profit foundation, has trained over 4,000 life-skills instructors nationwide who have gone on to teach more than 3 million hours of award-winning, statistically proven lessons to over 500,000 at-risk youth nationwide, who now have a better chance of reaching their full potential and becoming law-abiding citizens, making neighborhoods safer for our families.

• The ASPIRA Association Inc. Maintained by the only national nonprofit organization devoted solely to serving Puerto Rican and other Latino youth, this site provides resources for leadership development and education.

• The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is a private nonprofit group of scholars and educators who use the findings of linguistics and related sciences in identifying and addressing language-related problems. CAL carries out a wide range of activities, including research, teacher education, analysis and dissemination of information, design and development of instructional materials, technical assistance, conference planning, program evaluation, and policy analysis. Its website provides digests—short reports that highlight topics of current interest in foreign language education, ESL, bilingual education, and linguistics—and Resource Guides Online, which include information on free relevant publications, websites, organizations of interest, and conferences.

• Center on Education Policy This organization is a national, independent advocate for public education and for more effective public schools. The center helps Americans better understand the role of public education in a democracy and the need to improve the academic quality of public schools.It does not represent any special interests. Instead, it tries to help citizens make sense of the conflicting opinions and perceptions about public education and create the conditions that will lead to better public schools.

• Consortium for Policy Research in Education This organization unites five of the nation's top research institutions in an exciting venture to improve student learning through research on education reform, policy and finance.

• The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization composed of public officials who lead the departments responsible for elementary and secondary education in the states, the U.S. extra-state jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity. In representing the chief education officers, CCSSO works on behalf of the state agencies that serve preK-12 students throughout the nation.

• Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS NRC) is currently operated by ZERO TO THREE, Washington, DC. The EHS NRC works to ensure that Early Head Start programs have information and training on "best practices" on a range of topics, including: developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive services for infants/toddlers and their families; building effective relationships with families; creating developmentally appropriate environments; effective networking, collaboration, and community-building skills; inclusive services for children with special needs; comprehensive services for pregnant women; program and professional development; and program evaluation and continuous improvement. Apply for EHS funding.

• Education Commission of the States ECS is a national, nonprofit organization that helps governors, legislators, state education officials, and others identify, develop, and implement policies to improve student learning at all levels. A bipartisan interstate compact formed in 1965, ECS is located in Denver, Colorado. The staff includes educators, policy analysts, communications and technology experts, researchers, and support staff. The website contains a States and Territories page with information on each state's and territory's governors, state education agencies, state higher education agencies, state legislatures, selected state policies, summary of State-of-the-State, and addresses.

• The Education Policy and Leadership Center EPLC is an independent, non-partisan, and not-for-profit organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The work of the Center focuses on education policy, education leadership, and education advocacy. The information and activities of the Center are available to policymakers, educators, community leaders, and all citizens with an interest in education policy and leadership. EPLC's stated mission is to build and maintain an independent and non-partisan capacity that will support the improvement of state-level public policy pertaining to education issues by: linking relevant and reliable research and other information to state-level education policymakers; developing lay leaders and policy leaders who will serve as advocates and champions for education policy issues; and promoting a public climate that expects and rewards policymakers to act to improve education policy.

• Education World is "a home for educators on the Internet, a place where teachers [can] gather and share ideas,...a search engine for educational websites only, a place where educators [can] find information without searching the entire Internet." This information source, funded by corporate sponsors and advertisers, is updated with news from USA Today, monthly site reviews, and employment listings, and it contains such original content as lesson plans, articles written by education experts, and information on how to make the best use of technology in the classroom.

• The Future of Children disseminates timely information on major issues related to children's well-being, with special emphasis on providing objective analysis and evaluation, translating existing knowledge into effective programs and polices, and promoting constructive institutional change. The publication "The Future of Children" targets a multidisciplinary audience of national leaders, including policymakers, practitioners, legislators, executives, and professionals in the public and private sectors. This publication is intended to complement, not duplicate, the kind of technical analysis found in academic journals and the general coverage of children's issues by the popular press and special interest groups.

• The Mid-Atlantic Deans and Superintendents Network (MDSN) consists of member institutions in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia that are spearheading efforts aimed at building linkages between school superintendents and faculty of colleges of education and related subject areas in colleges of arts and sciences.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) exists for the purpose of leading and consolidating the efforts of individuals and groups working to achieve healthy development and constructive education for all young children. Online resources include a wide range of educational services and resources to adults who work with and for children.

• The National Association of Elementary School Principals This site provides information pertaining to education and serves as a gathering place where principals can come to exchange information, ideas, and experiences as well as discuss issues which impact education. 

• National Association of Secondary School Principals This site provides information about a variety of services aimed at fulfilling the leadership needs of principals of middle schools and high schools.

• The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) both informs and learns from practice. Its rigorous, high-quality research increases knowledge and gives those teaching, managing, and setting policy in adult literacy education a sound basis for making decisions. NCSALL is also a leader in designing innovative professional development programs and in building support for research use. NCSALL has supported research associated with each of its partner organizations—Harvard University Graduate School of Education, World Education, Rutgers University, Portland State University, and The Center for Literacy Studies at The University of Tennessee—as well as those at the Harvard School of Public Health, Brown University, and Michigan State University.

• National Education Association (NEA) site provides access to information about the services of the NEA, America's oldest and largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education.

• National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) site provides the latest information on the status of American education; enables the user to create a report card on their state's progress; and provides access to news and updates on educational improvement initiatives across the country.

• National School Boards Association (NSBA) is a nationwide advocacy and outreach organization for public school governance. Its mission is to foster equity and excellence in public elementary and secondary education in the United States through school board leadership. This website offers an overall profile of the organization's operations and goals. Provided are periodic updates on what NSBA is doing to represent the school board perspective before the federal government and with national organizations that affect education.

• New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NJASCD) The New Jersey affiliate of ASCD is an organization of diverse educational leaders committed to transforming teaching and learning to promote excellence in the learning community. This site provides information about the programs, products and services being delivered throughout New Jersey by NJASCD.

• PBS TeacherLine, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, provides teachers with online professional development in mathematics and technology integration. In collaboration with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and leading educational producers, TeacherLine has developed online facilitated modules and self-paced learning opportunities that teachers can access anytime, anywhere. PBS member stations work together with local education agencies to adapt TeacherLine to meet state and local standards and help deliver TeacherLine to teachers across the country. TeacherLine offers the Virtual Mathematics Academy, where teachers can explore NCTM's principles and standards online; the modules which are facilitated mini-courses offered through local PBS stations; and the Community Center where teachers can access online chats and links to resources, and collaborate with teaching professionals across the country.

• Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Office of Community Development, this site outlines the basic framework of the EZ/EC program.

• Algebra Tutor's website is a free, web-delivered, patent-pending intelligent tutoring system for tutoring students in writing expressions for algebra word problems. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation through a grant to the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Constructive Learning Environments (CIRCLE).

• The Center for the Enhancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME) is a nonprofit K–12 mathematics and science education reform organization supported by the National Science Foundation, Northeastern University, and other public and private organizations. CESAME has gained recognition for its efforts in creating awareness and supporting implementation of standards-based curricula, and for providing high-quality professional development in mathematics and science.

• The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education A national clearinghouse of knowledge in the subjects of math and science, this site provides valuable information about effective materials and teaching methods as well as professional development opportunities.

• getsmarter.org is an animated, interactive testing and learning site, on which students can compare their math and science performance against students worldwide, and can access learning tools and links to help them "get smarter." It is an initiative of the Council on Competitiveness. The site has pages for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

• Helping Your Child Learn Math is an online booklet/webpage that provides proven ideas and activities for families to help their children succeed in math. Publication of this book was managed by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. The booklet/webpage is part of the Helping Your Child Series aimed at helping families participate in their children's learning.

• Helping Your Child Learn Science is an online booklet/webpage that provides parents with examples of a few simple activities they can do with their children to help them better understand science. It is an introduction to the wealth of material in many other books available in libraries and bookstores. The contents of this book were prepared by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. The booklet/webpage is part of the Helping Your Child Series aimed at helping families participate in their children's learning.

• The Math Forum—which operates under the Drexel University School of Education and is funded by the National Science Foundation—is "a virtual center for math education on the Internet." The Forum provides information about math workshops for teachers, school-to-school networking, and Internet-based lessons and learning materials.

• Mathematics Education Partnership Program (MEPP) is a National Security Agency (NSA) outreach program to promote mathematics and science education at nonprofit educational institutions. Working within the Office of the NSA Chief Technical Officer, the MEPP staff coordinates the activities of hundreds of NSA volunteers. Much effort is concentrated on helping local area schools through four main programs: The Mathematics Speakers Bureau, where speakers visit schools and present a variety of interactive mathematics and science talks authored by the volunteers; The School Partnerships Program, where continuing relationships are maintained between schools and volunteers who spend part of their work week providing tutoring, computer help, or math and science enrichment activities; The Excess Equipment Program, where schools obtain used computers and laboratory equipment to support math and science education; and Math/Science Fair Judges, where NSA provides judges to local K–12 math/science fairs.

• The MegaMath Project is intended to bring unusual and important mathematical ideas (such as infinity) to elementary school classrooms so that young people and their teachers can think about them together. MegaMath is a project of the Computer Research and Applications Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, with additional technical support from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. The project is the work of many people, including classroom teachers, mathematicians, students in education and computer science, elementary school and high school students, school administrators, computer scientists, and parents.

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) NCTM, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit professional association dedicated to the improvement of mathematics education for all students in the United States and Canada. This site provides information on ways to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics through student and teacher growth.

• National Science Foundation (NSF) NSF is an independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs that invest over $3.3 billion per year in almost 20,000 research and education projects in science and engineering. This site summarizes the various NSF program areas, including biology, computer information sciences, education, engineering, geosciences, math/physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences.

• PBS TeacherSource is public television's first offering of discipline-specific educational services using online technology. Using PBS content in the classroom is easy since producers work with teachers to create standards-based curriculum materials, which are then aggregated at PBS TeacherSource. Subject areas include Arts & Literature, Health & Fitness, Math, Science, Social Studies, PreK–2, and Library Media.

• Science Learning Network SLN is an online community of educators, students, schools, science museums and other institutions demonstrating a new model for inquiry science education. The project incorporates inquiry-based teaching approaches, telecomputing, collaboration among geographically dispersed teachers and classrooms, and Internet content resources.

• Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (formerly known as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study) resulted from the American education community's need for reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries. TIMSS is the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment of its kind ever undertaken. Offered in 1995, 1999, and 2003, TIMSS provides trend data on students' mathematics and science achievement from an international perspective.

• Mid-Atlantic Regional Teachers Project (MARTP) Maintained by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), this website concerns MARTP, a regional collaboration to address data-driven policy impacting teacher quality and the region's teacher supply and demand. The primary concern of the project is providing every student in the region with a quality teacher. The MARTP participants are Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. MARTP was founded by the Laboratory for Student Success (LSS), the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and the Council for Basic Education (CBE).

Delaware

• Delaware Department of Education The official website of the Delaware Department of Education.

• State Government The official website of the State of Delaware.

• The Delaware Art Museum This site provides access to the online collection of Delaware's most prominent museum of major works of art.

Maryland

• Maryland State Department of Education The official website of the Maryland Department of Education.

• State Government The official website of the State of Maryland.

• American Visionary Art Museum This site displays and discusses the art of visionaries in celebration of the efforts of individuals who stretch the boundaries of human consciousness.

• Baltimore Museum of Art This site provides information about upcoming events at the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland.

• The National Aquarium in Baltimore This site provides information about various programs offered by the National Aquarium--one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced aquariums in existence.

New Jersey

• New Jersey Department of Education The official website of the New Jersey Department of Education.

• State Government The official website of the State of New Jersey.

 Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Department of Education The official website of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

• State Government The official website of the State of Pennsylvania.

• The Academy of Natural Sciences This site provides information about the activities of The Academy of Natural Sciences, an international museum of natural history operating since 1812, that conducts research focusing on the environment and its diverse species.

• The Franklin Institute Science Museum This site summarizes the offerings of The Franklin Institute Science Museum to visitors, including a sampling of the actual, physical museum as well as the unique experience of visiting online exhibits. In addition, information is available about an alliance that the Museum has formed with five other Science Museums in establishing the Science Learning Network. The Network's primary goal is to unite science educators, science museums, and Internet resources in order to improve the quality of science classroom learning.

• Penn Hills Library The Penn Hills Library is a model community information center. This site provides a broad range of informational resources including ones that meet the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural enrichment opportunities of Penn Hills' diverse and multicultural community. 

• Philadelphia Museum of Art This site provides access to information about the online galleries of Pennsylvania's largest museum of fine art. The Philadelphia Art Museum's Division of Education offers educational programs for families and the classroom.

• The Philadelphia Zoo This site provides information about the educational opportunities offered by the Philadelphia Zoo.

• Report Card on the Schools 2005 Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Report Card on the Schools 2005" contains information on educational institutions in the Philadelphia area. Most of the data in Report Card on the Schools come from Inquirer surveys of public school districts as well as technical and charter schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. Private high schools in the eight counties were also surveyed. In addition, the report draws from statistics published by the Departments of Education in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

• WHYY Public Broadcasting WHYY provides public television and radio broadcasting services to Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. This site includes information about the educational programs and products that are available through WHYY.

Washington, DC

• District of Columbia Public Schools The official website of the District of Columbia Public Schools.

• District of Columbia Government The official website of the District of Columbia.

• The National Air and Space Museum This site provides online access to the aeronautical exhibitions of the National Air and Space Museum. A variety of educational programs available to families and educators are described.

• The National Children's Museum The National Children's Museum fosters children's love of learning by encouraging exploration, creativity, imagination, expression, and discovery. Online activities are designed to allow all children the opportunity to realize their potential by giving them the freedom to learn in their own way and at their own pace. 

• The National Zoo The website of the National Zoo provides extensive online resources for learning about animals, including live video of animals in their habitats.

• Newseum Newseum is the world's first and only interactive museum of news. Online information about Newseum focuses on seeing and experiencing how and why news is made.

• The Smithsonian The Smithsonian holds approximately 140 million artifacts and specimens in its trust for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge." The Institution is also a center for research dedicated to public education, national service, and scholarship in the arts, sciences, and history. Information about the sixteen museums and galleries and the National Zoo and its numerous research facilities in the United States and abroad is available online.

• Washington Post Online—Education This site provides articles on District of Columbia schools, education around the nation, surveys, transcripts of discussions, and area SAT scores, plus a section called KidsPost, offering news and features designed for younger readers.

• National Rural Education Association The National Rural Education Association is the oldest established national organization promoting improvement in rural education in the United States. This site provides information about the organization's activities as a national advocate and representative for rural education.

• Navigating Resources for Rural Schools The website provides links to data and information on current and changing conditions in education in rural America, including data regarding: enrollments; National Assessment of Educational Progress scores; course-taking, dropouts, and transition to college; availability of advanced course offerings and technology, teacher characteristics, class size, technology, discipline and facilities; and support for learning, including parents' satisfaction and involvement, community support, and financial support. The website also has links to other information resources, including relevant department programs, research and promising practices related to rural education. Much of the information is from department-supported regional educational laboratories, the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, and the Distance Learning Resource Network.

• Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools (PARSS) This website provides information and resources for educators, parents, and students from rural and small school districts. The purpose of PARSS is to speak on the behalf of small school constituencies in influencing the actions of financial and policy decision makers.

• LSS Advanced Technologies for Learning site

• Catalyst Chicago—Independent Reporting on Urban Schools is an independent newsmagazine created in 1990 to document, analyze and support school-improvement efforts in the Chicago Public Schools. It is published by the Community Renewal Society, a 122-year-old, faith-based organization that works to create racially and economically just communities in metropolitan Chicago. The May 2004 issue of Catalyst contains such technology-oriented articles as:
  • "What We Know About Efforts to End 'Social Promotion'" by Elizabeth Duffrin
  • "Three Who Were Kept Behind"
  • "Older 8th-graders Take New Route"
  • "3 Routes to Senn High School's Catch-up Academy"

• Comprehensive Centers Network consists of 15 Comprehensive Centers (CC) located throughout the country. The US Department of Education established the CC Network to provide technical assistance services focused on the implementation of reform programs. The CCs work primarily with states, local education agencies, tribes, schools, and other recipients of funds under the No Child Left Behind Act. Priority for services is given to high-poverty schools and districts, Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, and IASA recipients implementing schoolwide programs.
  Download the Comprehensive Centers Network brochure (.pdf).
• Classroom Connect, a business unit within Harcourt, Inc., is a leading provider of professional development and online curriculum resources that foster successful use of the Internet in education. It offers the K–12 education community a customized subscription service package that includes high-quality professional learning programs and standards-based classroom learning materials, complete with face-to-face training and ongoing professional support.

• Computers in the Classroom: The Impact of Technology on Student Learning is the title of a publication published by the Laboratory for Student Success resulting from a cooperative research project conducted by the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Consortium Research Fellows Program, and Boise State University College of Education. The publication provides conclusive evidence of the positive effects of computer technology on student learning in all core subject areas in grades K-12. In addition, computer techniques and teaching approaches that result in enhanced student achievement, attitudes, and behavior are identified.
  A copy of the complete report may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Army Research Institute, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 837257 or by calling (208) 334-9390.

• The Educator’s Reference Desk, a project of the Information Institute of Syracuse, provides access to the following resources:
  • Resource Guides provides links to over 3000 resources on a variety of educational issues.
  • Lesson Plans contains more than 2000 unique lesson plans which were written and submitted by teachers from all over the United States.
  • Question Archives is a sample collection of responses to questions that were sent to the AskERIC service between 1992 and 2003.
  • Search GEM/ERIC provides a search of the Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) Catalog and a link to the ERIC Database, a bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966.

• The Institute for Knowledge Innovation and Technology (IKIT) conducts research, develops technology, and helps build communities aimed at advancing beyond “best practice” in education, knowledge work, and knowledge creation. An international community from a variety of sectors is actively engaged in pooling intellectual resources and participating in projects.

• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit professional organization with a worldwide membership of leaders and potential leaders in educational technology. It is dedicated to promoting appropriate uses of information technology to support and improve learning, teaching, and administration in K–12 education and teacher education. ISTE's role is leadership—it provides its members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of incorporating computers, the Internet, and other new technologies into their schools. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project and the National Center for Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (NCPT3), ISTE also represents and informs its membership regarding educational issues of national scope through ISTE-DC. It supports a worldwide network of Affiliates and Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and it offers its members the latest information through its periodicals and journals.

• LibertyNet Philadelphia, an affiliate of Region Online, is a provider of regional information, including a page devoted to Education.

• Implementing School Reform: Practice and Policy Imperatives Written following the 1994 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, this book examines the database and implications for improving Title I implementation in high-poverty schools in urban and rural areas. In this publication, an interdisciplinary team of researchers brings critical attention to the issues and steps that will improve the learning of children and youth in urban and rural schools with a high concentration of students from economically disadvantaged homes. LSS Researchers Margaret C. Wang and Kenneth K. Wong co-edited the book.

Other Title I Resources:

• NCLB Action Briefs—Title I Overview is one of the available NCLB Action Briefs, a joint project of the Public Education Network and the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE).

• Title I is Education Week on the Web's description of Title I, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).

• Title I—Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged, part of No Child Left Behind, is designed to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. 

• Back to School focuses on what No Child Left Behind means for America's families, teachers, and communities. It includes A Teacher's Guide to Homework Tips for Parents and the Helping Your Child Series.

• Basic Vocational Rehabilitation Services are financed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which authorizes the allocation of federal funds on a formula basis for the administration and operation of a vocational rehabilitation (VR) program to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing for and engaging in gainful employment. The VR program provides a wide range of services and job training to people with disabilities who want to work. At present, the VR system has more than 1.2 million eligible individuals, over 80% of whom have significant disabilities. Priority is given to people with the most significant disabilities. To be eligible for VR services from a state VR agency, a person must have a physical or mental impairment that is a substantial impediment to employment; be able to benefit from VR services in terms of employment; and require VR services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain employment. The state VR agencies assist persons with disabilities to locate employment by developing and maintaining close relationships with local businesses

• The Comprehensive School Reform Program is designed to increase student achievement by assisting public schools across the country with implementing comprehensive reforms that are grounded in scientifically based research and effective practices. The CSR program targets high-poverty and low-achieving schools, especially those receiving Title I funds, by helping them to increase the quality and accelerate the pace of their reform efforts. The 11 components of the Comprehensive School Reform Program provide an organizing framework that encourages schools to build upon and leverage state and local school initiatives into a comprehensive plan for school improvement

• The Condition of Education website, maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), is an integrated collection of the indicators and essays published in The Condition of Education 2000 and The Condition of Education 2001, The Condition of Education 2002, The Condition of Education 2003, The Condition of Education 2004, and The Condition of Education 2005.

• The DC Choice Incentive Program provides low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia with expanded options for the education of their children. One or more grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicants to establish a scholarship program to provide eligible students with expanded school choice options. Students who are residents of the district and who come from households whose income does not exceed 185% of the poverty line are eligible to apply for scholarships from a grantee under this program. These scholarships may be used to pay the tuition and fees and transportation expenses, if any, to enable students to attend the participating district private elementary or secondary school of their choice.

• Early Childhood Educator Professional Development Program is designed to enhance the school readiness of young children, particularly disadvantaged young children. In an attempt to prevent young children from encountering reading difficulties once they enter school, the program seeks to improve the knowledge and skills of early childhood educators who work in communities that have high concentrations of children living in poverty. In particular, projects must utilize evidence-based practice focused on early reading and cognitive development for both the professional development activities and early childhood curricula.

• Early Reading First, part of the President's “Good Start, Grow Smart” initiative, is designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-quality, early education to young children, especially those from low-income families. The overall purpose of the Early Reading First Program is to prepare young children to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success.

• ED Pubs Maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, this online ordering system is intended to help computer users identify and order U.S. Department of Education products.

• Educational Resource Organizations Directory is intended to help you identify and contact organizations that provide information and assistance on a broad range of education-related topics.

• Enhanced Assessment Grants are designed to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and systems used by states for measuring the achievement of all students. Proficiency on state assessments required under Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is the primary indicator in the ESEA of student academic achievement and, hence, the primary measure of state success in meeting the goals of No Child Left Behind. In view of the critical importance of these state assessments, section 6111 provides formula grants to all state educational agencies (SEAs), and section 6112 authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grant awards to SEAs to help them enhance the quality of assessment and accountability systems.

• Enhancing Education through Technology (Ed-Tech) State Program has the primary goal of improving student academic achievement through the use of technology in schools. It is also designed to assist students in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is technologically literate by the end of eighth grade, and to encourage the effective integration of technology with teacher training and curriculum development to establish successful research-based instructional methods.

• ERIC Database Funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)—now the Institute of Education Sciences—of the U.S. Department of Education, this is a centralized website for searching the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966.

• Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative provides competitive grants to states to plan and implement statewide family literacy initiatives to coordinate and integrate existing federal, state, and local literacy resources including resources available under Title I, Part A; Even Start; Head Start; the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act; and Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act.

• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) In the summer of 1997, more than 30 federal agencies formed a working group to make hundreds of federally supported education resources available at this website. Maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, this site provides hundreds of teaching and learning resources.

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) This website concerns financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. The Student Financial Assistance Programs are the largest source of student aid in America, providing over $40 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance. Here, applicants will find help for every stage of the financial aid process, whether they are in school or out of school. Sections include Finding Out About Financial Aid, Applying for Federal Student Aid, and Paying Back Your Student Loan.

• The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides funds which are earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of postsecondary education. Students can receive FWS funds at more than 3,300 participating postsecondary institutions. Institutional financial aid administrators at participating institutions have substantial flexibility in determining the amount of FWS awards to provide to students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment.

• Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education—Comprehensive Program is the central grant competition of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The competition is designed to support innovative reform projects that hold promise as models for the resolution of important issues and problems in postsecondary education.

• Grants and Contracts. This site features What I Should Know About ED Grants, Forecast of Funding Opportunities, Federal Register Documents, Guide to Education Programs, and Discretionary Grant Application Packages.

• The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Capital Financing Program (1) authorizes the Department of Education to select a private for-profit Designated Bonding Authority (DBA), which will issue up to $375 million in bonds and use the corpus to make loans to creditworthy historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for capital projects related to instruction, research, or housing of students, faculty or staff; (2) provides financial insurance to guarantee up to $375 million in loans to qualifying HBCUs; and (3) establishes the HBCU Capital Financing Advisory Board to advise the secretary and the DBA on the most efficient ways to implement construction, renovation, or maintenance financing.

• Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, this site concerns the Teacher Quality Initiative, with information on preparing new teachers, raising standards for teachers, professional development, research and Dissemination, and classroom resources.

• The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) replaced the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) with the signing of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. IES reflects the intent of the president and Congress to advance the field of education research, making it more rigorous in support of evidence-based education. IES consists of the National Center for Education Research (NCER), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE).

• The Magnet Schools Assistance Program provides grants to eligible local educational agencies to establish and operate magnet schools that are operated under a court-ordered or federally approved voluntary desegregation plan.

• The Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program is intended to increase the academic achievement of students in mathematics and science by enhancing the content knowledge and teaching skills of classroom teachers. Partnerships between high-need school districts and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty in institutions of higher education are at the core of these improvement efforts. Other partners may include state education agencies, public charter schools or other public schools, businesses, and nonprofit or for-profit organizations concerned with mathematics and science education.

• Mathematics Equals Opportunity. This report by the U.S. Department of Education shows that high school students who take algebra, geometry, and other rigorous mathematics courses are more likely to go on to college. Topics presented include the importance of mathematics for college and work, course-taking patterns in middle school, parent and student attitudes about math and science, international comparisons, and promising practices. Also included are "next steps" that educators, parents, and community members can take to improve students' chances for success through mathematics learning.

• The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in a variety of subjects. The NAEP budget supports five major program components: (1) National NAEP—the main NAEP assessments, which report results for the nation and periodically measure student achievement in civics, geography, reading, mathematics, science, U.S. history, writing, and other subjects; (2) Long-term NAEP—assessments that measure student achievement in reading, mathematics, and science over time; (3) State NAEP—assessments that provide reliable state-level student achievement data in reading, mathematics, science, and writing; (4) Secondary Analysis Grants and Special Studies Program—a program that funds an annual user-proposed secondary analysis grants competition as well as periodic special studies to examine methodological and operational issues; and (5) Evaluation and Validation Studies.

• The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations.

• The National Centers for Career and Technical Education Program supports the establishment of a national center or centers to conduct applied research, development, dissemination, and training activities in the field of vocational education.

• The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, chaired by former Senator and astronaut John Glenn, was established by the Secretary of Education to: (1) reviewing the current state of American K-12 mathematics and science education with a focus on the challenges of teacher recruitment, preparation, retention, and professional growth and (2) articulating the steps needed to strengthen the classroom practice of math and science teachers.

• The National Professional Development Program provides professional development activities that will improve instruction for students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and assists education personnel working with such children to meet high professional standards.

• The Neglected and Delinquent State Agency and Local Educational Agency Program consists of a State Agency Neglected and Delinquent (N&D) program and a Local Educational Agency program. The State Agency N&D program provides formula grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) for supplementary education services to help provide education continuity for children and youth in state-run institutions for juveniles and in adult correctional institutions, so that these youth can make successful transitions to school or employment once they are released from state institutions. The Local Educational Agency program requires each SEA to reserve, from its Title I allocation, funds generated by the number of children in locally operated institutions for delinquent youth. Funds are awarded to local education agencies (LEAs) with high proportions of youth in local correctional facilities for dropout prevention programs for at-risk youth.

• The No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K–12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

• The Office of Educational Technology (OET) is designed to provide leadership to the nation in using technology to promote achievement of the National Education Goals and to increase opportunities for all students to achieve state content and challenging state student performance standards, by supporting the overall national technology policy and consulting with other federal departments or agencies.

• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) was created to promote academic excellence, to enhance educational opportunities and equity for all of America's children and families, and to improve the quality of teaching and learning by providing leadership, technical assistance and financial support.

• The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) formulates federal postsecondary education policy and administers programs that address critical national needs in support of the nation’s mission to increase access to quality postsecondary education. OPE includes several key components, including Policy, Planning, and Innovation (PPI), the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), and Higher Education Programs (HEP).

• Office of Public Affairs (OPA) The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Office of Public Affairs website contains: archives of USDOE press releases, news bulletins, media advisories, and official statements; speeches and testimony by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and other senior USDOE officials; newsfeed provided to radio stations around the country on education issues and activities of the USDOE; selected photographs taken at major USDOE events; biographies of USDOE Senior Staff; education-related press releases and statements from the White House; and live and archived video webcasts of news events sponsored by the USDOE.

• The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) administers, coordinates, and recommends policy for improving quality and excellence of programs and activities that are designed to: provide financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities and activities that promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education; participate in the formulation and development of ED program policy and legislative proposals and in overall Administration policies related to violence and drug prevention; drafting program regulations; participate in interagency committees, groups, and partnerships related to drug and violence prevention, coordinating with other federal agencies on issues related to comprehensive school health, and advising the Secretary of Education on the formulation of comprehensive school health education policy; Participate with other federal agencies in the development of a national research agenda for drug and violence prevention; administer the department's programs relating to citizenship and civics education; and provide national leadership on issues and programs in correctional education.

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) supports programs that assist in educating children with special needs, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

• Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) supports a wide range of programs and activities that help young people and adults obtain the knowledge and skills they need for successful careers and productive lives. On this site, you will find useful information about programs, grants, and events related to adult education and vocational education; school-to-work; high school reform; community colleges; correctional education; tribal colleges and universities; community technology centers; empowerment zones and enterprise communities; and teacher development activities.

• Partnership for Family Involvement in Education (PFIE) Staff at the U.S. Department of Education established the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education in September 1994. Because family participation in children's learning is often influenced by work schedules and time constraints, it is crucial that businesses, community and religious organizations, and especially families and schools support parent and employee involvement in education. To encourage such support, the Department of Education administers the Partnership and offers resources, ideas, funding, and conferences relevant to family involvement in education. Partners commit to increasing family participation in children's learning through a variety of activities and efforts, some of which include: student- and family-friendly policies at the workplace, before- and after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring initiatives, and donations of facilities and technologies.

• Reading First was established as a new, high-quality evidence-based program for the students of America when President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002 signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law. The Reading First initiative builds on the findings of years of scientific research, which, at the request of Congress, were compiled by the National Reading Panel. Ensuring that more children receive effective reading instruction in the early grades is of critical importance to the President and the nation.

• The Reading is Fundamental/Inexpensive Book Distribution program awards an annual contract to Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) to provide, through aid to local nonprofit groups and volunteer organizations, reading motivation activities. RIF encourages reading both inside and outside of school by allowing youngsters to select books to keep at home.

• Remembering September 11th This webpage maintained by the U.S. Department of Education is designed to provide suggestions for adults and suggestions for educators in helping children cope with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The page also links to a letter from First Lady Laura Bush to elementary school students concerning the attacks, and a letter from First Lady Laura Bush to middle and high school students concerning the attacks.

• Safe and Drug-Free Schools Governors’ Grants provide support to governors for a variety of drug and violence prevention activities focused primarily on school-age youths. Governors use their program funds to provide support to parent groups, community-based organizations, and other public and private nonprofit entities for drug and violence prevention activities that complement the state education agency (SEA) and local education agency (LEA) portion of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program.

• Safe and Drug-Free Schools State Formula Grants provide support to state educational agencies (SEAs) for a variety of drug and violence prevention activities focused primarily on school-age youths. SEAs are required to distribute 91% of funds to local education agencies (LEAs) for drug and violence prevention activities authorized under the statute, which may include developing instructional materials; counseling services; professional development programs for school personnel, students, law enforcement officials, judicial officials, or community leaders; implementing conflict resolution, peer meditation, and mentoring programs; implementing character education programs and community service projects; establishing safe zones of passage for students to and from school; and acquiring and installing metal detectors and hiring security personnel. Of the funds distributed to LEAs, 30% must be awarded to LEAs with the greatest need for additional funds for drug and violence prevention; the remaining 70% of funds must be awarded to LEAs based on enrollment.

• Safe Schools/Healthy Students Discretionary Grants [link to http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/index.html] are designed to provide students, schools, and communities the benefit of enhanced comprehensive educational, mental health, social service, law enforcement, and, as appropriate, juvenile justice system services that can promote healthy childhood development and prevent violence and alcohol and other drug abuse.

• School Dropout Prevention Program assists schools with annual dropout rates above their state average to implement effective dropout prevention and re-entry efforts. The program is a response to a national dropout rate of about 11% over the past decade (with significantly higher rates in some regions and for some groups of students), and the poor labor market outcomes for those without a high school credential.

• The Small, Rural School Achievement Program authorizes the Secretary of Education to award formula grants directly to eligible local education agencies (LEAs)—i.e., those LEAs eligible under the alternative uses of funds program—to carry out activities authorized under other specified federal programs.

• Smaller Learning Communities, authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, provides grants which permit grantees to, among other things: (1) study the feasibility of creating smaller learning communities; (2) research, develop, and implement strategies for creating smaller learning communities; (3) provide professional development for school staff in the teaching methods that would be used in the smaller learning community; and (4) develop and implement strategies to include parents, business representatives, community-based organizations, and other community members in the activities of the smaller learning communities.

• Star Schools Program is designed to (a) encourage improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects; and (b) serve underserved populations, including disadvantaged, non-reading, and limited English proficient populations and individuals with disabilities. Star Schools grants are made to eligible telecommunications partnerships, to enable such partnerships to: (a) develop, construct, acquire, maintain, and operate telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment; (b) develop and acquire educational and instructional programming; and (c) obtain technical assistance for the use of such facilities and instructional programming.

• Strategic Plan 2002–2007 This is a copy of the U.S. Department of Education's Strategic Plan 2002–2007 released by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige on March 7, 2002. It includes sections on the plan's six stated goals: create a culture of achievement, improve student achievement, develop safe schools and strong character, transform education into an evidence-based field, enhance the quality of and access to postsecondary and adult education, and establish management excellence.

• The Student Guide The Student Guide is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of student financial aid available through the Department's Student Financial Assistance office. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

• The Student Support Services (SSS) Program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education. The SSS program may also provide grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants. The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants and facilitate the process of transition from one level of higher education to the next.

• Supported Employment State Grants are designed to assist states in developing collaborative programs with appropriate public and private nonprofit organizations to provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities. The program assists individuals with the most significant disabilities to achieve the employment outcome of supported employment. The term “supported employment” includes both individuals in competitive work and individuals working in an integrated setting toward competitive work. Individuals in competitive employment must earn at least the minimum wage.

• The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program is a key component of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act. It is an opportunity for students and their families to continue to learn new skills and discover new abilities after the school day has ended. The focus of this program is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low-performing schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, the program provides youth development activities; drug and violence prevention programs; technology education programs; art, music and recreation programs; counseling; and character education to enhance the academic component of the program.

• U.S. Department of Education The U.S. Department of Education is committed to strengthening the federal commitment and capacity of the states to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual. This site provides information about the offices and programs of the U.S. Department of Education, education initiatives of the President and the Secretary, the full text of the Department's reports and publications.

• "What Really Matters in American Education" is the title of a speech delivered by former Secretary of Education Richard Riley in which he describes the elements of "a new American consensus...about how to improve education." During the address, Secretary Riley notes that proposed Department of Education improvements include allocating $3.5 million to match up 58 schools with "proven education reformers like ...the Laboratory for Success at Temple University." A formal report further addresses the issues put forth in Secretary Riley' speech.

• The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) gathers studies of the effectiveness of educational interventions (programs, products, practices, and policies) on an ongoing basis, reviews the studies that have the strongest design, and reports on the strengths and weaknesses of those studies against the WWC Evidence Standards so that the reader knows what the best scientific evidence has to say.

• Community Update Community Update is a newsletter published by the U.S. Department of Education that is devoted to reporting on the goals, progress and events surrounding various federal programs that encourage family and community participation in the education of our youth. Online information focuses on how communities can learn from one another as they improve their schools.

• Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) CGCS is an organization representing the nation's largest urban public school systems. Online information reports the activities of the Council's 49 member districts.

• MiddleWeb This site explores the challenges of middle grades reform, with a special focus on urban middle schools.

• U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) This link provides information about the U.S. Department of Education's efforts to promote the use of technology in schools, libraries, and communities to achieve its mission of ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation.

• Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Constructive Learning Environments (CIRCLE) is a National Science Foundation-funded research center located at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, with multiple partnerships among schools, industries, and other research institutions. CIRCLE's mission is to determine why highly effective forms of instruction, such as human one-on-one tutoring, work so well, and to develop computer-based constructive learning environments that foster equally impressive learning.

• Choices in Education: 2005 Progress Report from The Heritage Foundation contains information on Types of Educational Choice Available (Public School Choice, Public Charter Schools, Private School Choice Options), Vouchers (District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Ohio, Vermont, Wisconsin, Utah), Tax Incentives (Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania), Home Schooling, Remaining Challenges, and What Congress Should Do.

• Education Week on the Web This site summarizes each issue of Education Week and includes an archive of back issues, daily news, special reports, hot topics, state information, links to other pertinent sites on the Web, definitions of key terms, a last of background readings, and a hyperlinked roster of related organizations.

• The Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) is a consortium effort to provide educators with quick and easy access to thousands of educational resources found on various federal, state, university, nonprofit, and commercial Internet sites. GEM is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers, parents, administrators can search or browse The Gateway and find thousands of high-quality educational materials, including lesson plans, activities, and projects from over 200 GEM Consortium member sites.

• Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL)'s mission is to improve education—and the lives of children and their families—through positive and visionary change. IEL brings together diverse constituencies and empowers leaders with knowledge and applicable ideas. IEL's work is supported by foundations, corporations, and generous individuals, and its teams often include the most innovative federal, state, and local government agencies and many of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations.

• Native American Resources This site provides an extensive list of online resources specifically for Native Americans, including links to web indexes, language resources, education resources, and government resources.

• The New York Times Learning Network Published by The New York Times, this site is a free service for students in grades 6-12, their teachers, and their parents. The site is updated Monday through Friday throughout the school year. Students can read the day's top stories, take a news quiz, write a letter to the editor, or ask a reporter a question. Teachers can access a daily lesson plan written in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City; each lesson plan and the article it references can be printed out for classroom use. Parents can join an online discussion, read a recent product review, or participate with their children in the activities in the student section.

• Polaris Grants Central This site provides basic information in the form of directories, lists, hints and tips, resources, and articles for organizations seeking grants. Since 1984, the Polaris Grants Division has provided services for educational institutions (K-12, colleges, universities), government agencies (city, county, regional), hospitals, medical centers, health care organizations, nonprofit organizations, associations, and other community-based organizations. Polaris assists by providing step-by-step, how-to instruction and training in grants acquisition; through how-to books and other publications; with technical assistance and support services; and through on-line advice in a "Dear Polaris" question-and-answer format on America On-Line. The website contains grant seeker's resources, tips and hints, news on recent grants, and a calendar of Polaris Grants Workshops.

• Private School Review offers free detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding area.
  
  
• Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. (RNT) This is the website of Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. (RNT), a national nonprofit organization formed in 1986 to raise esteem for teaching, expand the pool of prospective teachers, and improve the nation's teacher recruitment and development policies and practices.

• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) The 21st CCLC Program is a key component of our national efforts to keep children safe; to provide academic enrichment and other recreational and enrichment opportunities, such as band, drama, art, and other cultural events for children; and to provide life-long learning opportunities for community members. Congress has supported this initiative by appropriating $846 million for after-school programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 (up from $453 million in 2000). The focus of this program, authorized under Title X, Part I, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is to provide expanded learning opportunities for participating children in a safe, drug-free and supervised environment. The 21st CCLC program enables schools to stay open longer, providing a safe place for homework centers, intensive mentoring in basic skills, drug and violence prevention counseling, help for middle-school students to prepare to take college prep courses in high school, and enrichment in the core academic subjects, as well as opportunities to participate in recreational activities, chorus, band and the arts, technology education programs, and services for children and youth with disabilities.