A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

A biweekly look at progress on the Secretary's priorities

Table of Contents Helping All Children Read Well... Two Years of College... Helping All Students Reach High Standards Workshops on After-School Programs Child Care Initiative Announced New Online Credits

HELPING ALL CHILDREN READ WELL BY THE END OF 3rd GRADE The Corporation for National Service (CNS), a partner in the America Reads Challenge, recently announced the availability of 1998 funds for new AmeriCorps*VISTA program grants focusing on the America Reads initiative in all 50 States, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Awards under this program include support for AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers to coordinate America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study programs. Public or private non-profit organizations are eligible, & priority will be given to: (1) Entities planning or operating city, county, statewide, or multi-state America Reads initiatives; (2) local governments planning or operating area-wide America Reads initiatives; (3) volunteer centers engaged in recruiting trained literacy tutors for the America Reads initiative; and, (4) university service-learning centers coordinating work-study and other college students for the Initiative. About 35-40 grants are expected to be awarded in April, with AmeriCorps*VISTA members beginning service prior to the start of the 1998-99 school year. Applications must be received by January 28. For applications & details, contact AmeriCorps*VISTA, Corporation for National & Community Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20525, (202) 606-5000, ext. 249, TDD (202) 565-2799, or TTY via the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE & LIFELONG LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS "Confronting the Odds: Students At Risk & the Pipeline to Higher Education" (December 1997) looks at critical junctures in the pipeline to college enrollment where at-risk high school graduates leave at higher rates than their counterparts not at risk. It also identifies factors that contribute to at-risk students' successful navigation of the pipeline to college enrollment. Among the findings: About 58% of 1992 high school graduates had 1 or more risk factors, 32% had 1 risk factor, 16% had 2, and 9% had 3 or more. Among 1992 high school graduates with no risk factors, 58% successfully navigated the pipeline to enrollment in a 4-year college, compared with 30% of students at risk. The number of students' friends with plans to attend a 4-year college was strongly associated with enrollment outcomes. Students who enrolled in a 4-year college were much more likely to report that all or most of their friends planned to attend (80%), compared with those who enrolled in other postsecondary education (60%) or who never enrolled (49%). For more highlights & the full report, please see: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98094.html THE DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM will commemorate 5 years of service to students & schools at its anniversary conference in Washington, D.C. March 7-9. This will be a chance to meet with fellow & prospective Direct Loan school administrators & Department staff, learn about Direct Loan accomplishments, and share lessons from the past & innovations for the future. Also, the new Direct Loan program website features interactive budget & repayment calculators, all Direct Loan publications, bulletins, newsletters, forbearance & deferment forms, links to conference registration, links to Direct Loan schools, Direct Loan Coalition, AmeriCorps & more. http://www.ed.gov/DirectLoan/ The 1998-99 version of FAFSA Express (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now available at "FAFSA on the Web." This software allows students to apply online for financial aid. http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/express.html

HELPING ALL STUDENTS REACH HIGH STANDARDS The dropout rate is holding steady at 5%, Secretary Riley announced last month at the release of "Dropout Rates in the United States: 1996" (December 1997). "This means that some 500,000 young people are still short-changing their lives" by dropping out of school, he said. According to the report, 9% of Hispanics left school before completing a high school program in 1996, compared to 6.7% for blacks and 4.1% for whites. For more information, please see the press release: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/12-1997/dropout.html Or the report: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/dropout/index.html

WORKSHOPS ON AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS The Department, with the National Community Education Association (NCEA) & the National Center for Community Education (NCCE), is offering a series of 1-day regional workshops for people who may apply for grants under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. The workshops will help potential applicants plan & implement high-quality after-school programs by offering tips for preparing the application, research results, & examples of high-quality after-school programs & activities in the region. These workshops will be held in Boston & Atlanta on February 2, New York & Dallas on February 4, Washington, D.C. & St. Louis on February 6, Los Angeles & Chicago on February 9, Seattle & Flint on February 11, & Denver on February 13.

CHILD CARE INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED On January 7, the President announced that his 1999 budget will include about $20 billion over 5 years for child care. This initiative will... double the number of children receiving child care subsidies to more than 2 million by the year 2003. increase tax credits for 3 million working families to help pay for child care & provide a new tax credit for businesses that offer child care services for employees. expand the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program by $800 million over 5 years, which will provide after-school care for half a million children. improve child care safety & quality, expands funding for Head Start & more. The proposal will be part of the President's budget, to be sent to Congress next month. The White House press release is online (under "January 7th") at: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/WhiteHouse.html

NEW ONLINE "Synthetic Estimates of Adult Literacy Proficiency" is an interactive database of literacy estimates for counties, cities & congressional districts. Estimates are based on statistical models that combine information from different sources to produce estimates not available from any 1 source. http://www.casas.org/lit/litcode/ The National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities offers a database of 200 national organizations that address disability-related issues. State fact sheets are also available, featuring state agencies serving children & youth with disabilities, state chapters of disability organizations & parent groups, parent training & information projects, & more. http://www.nichcy.org/new.htm

Have a comment or suggestion on ED Initiatives? Please send it to Kirk Winters in the Office of the Under Secretary at kirk.winters@ed.gov.

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