Linking Home-Based Child Care and State-Funded Preschool: The Community Connections Preschool Program (Illinois Action for Children): Evaluation Phase 1 — Implementation Study

The Community Connections preschool program (herein referred to as Community Connections) was developed to help prepare children in home-based child care for success in school and in life. It has three goals: (1) to make state prekindergarten classroom experiences available to children in home-based care, (2) to extend classroom learning experiences in the home-based care setting, and (3) to support infant and toddler development in participating providers' homes. In this model, state prekindergarten (Illinois "Preschool for All") classrooms provide half-day sessions four days per week for 3- and 4-year-old children coming from home-based child care. On the fifth day, the teachers visit children's care providers; delivering books and educational materials, modeling ways to extend curriculum activities, and discussing children's learning in the classroom. While preschoolers are in classrooms away from the home-based care setting, providers have precious time to focus on the needs of infants and toddlers in their care. Illinois Action for Children (herein referred to as IAFC) created the Community Connections program model in 2005 as Illinois was rapidly expanding its state prekindergarten program, which would ultimately change from serving exclusively at-risk children to become "Preschool for All." As the Preschool for All program grew, it became clear that large numbers of preschoolers in home-based care were being left out. Home-based care is the only option for many parents in low-wage jobs because those jobs tend to require non-traditional work hours — evenings, weekends, and changing shifts ““ when child care centers are closed. In Illinois, 67% of low-income single mothers with children under six work non-traditional hours (Illinois Action for Children, 2006). These mothers overwhelmingly choose home-based child care, usually provided by family, friends and neighbors. According to Illinois Child Care Assistance Program data, among families using the Child Care Assistance Program in Cook County, 58% have enrolled their children in home-based child care (22% in licensed homes and 36% in license-exempt Family, Friend and Neighbor care). While home-based child care is a significant community asset, preschool-age children tend to learn cognitive school readiness skills best in classroom settings (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Research Network, 2002). In 2005, IAFC developed Community Connections to support home-based child care while adding a classroom-based experience to the children's day. This new program represents a third model through which state prekindergarten services are delivered in Illinois. The two most common models are part-day school-based programs and full-day programs delivered in conjunction with child care centers. As a third model, Community Connections has the potential to reach a large population of unserved children

Letters of Samuel Forry, Surgeon U.S. Army, 1837-1838, Part I

These letters, written during Dr. Forry’s service in Florida, and relating to the Seminole War, are in the possession of John Wolcott Phelps, of Northfield, Massachusetts, a son of Gen. J. W. Phelps to whom they were written. Samuel Forry, born June 23, 1811, at Berlin, Pennsylvania, received his degree in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and was appointed assistant surgeon, U. S. Army, in 1836, serving until 1840. He wrote: The Climate of the United States and its Endemic Influences, New York, 1842; Meteorology. New York, 1843; Statistical Report of the Sickness and Mortality in the Army of the United States 1819-1839, Washington, 1840; etc. He died November 8, 1844

Nixon v. Fitzgerald: Recognition of Absolute Immunity From Personal Damage Liability for Presidential Acts

Although traditionally it has been recognized that the President is absolutely immune from personal damage liability for his official acts, there is no precedent for this rule in constitutional text or case law. However, in the case of Nixon v. Fitzgerald, the Supreme Court overruled lower federal courts in establishing a clear precedent for the President\u27s absolute immunity from personal liability for civil damages. The author examines this decision in light of traditional principles of official immunity and analyzes the Court\u27s holding from the standpoint of whether the President is indeed placed above the law

Simulation of a Large Scale Data Reduction System

Over the next few years, one of the great challenges mankind will be facing is the design and management of increasingly complex systems. Simulation models of these systems will play a major role in meeting this challenge expeditiously and economically. As an example of the use of such techniques this paper describes briefly a Monte Carlo simulation of the Air Force Eastern Test Range data reduction computer system. This system included an IBM 7094/7044/1301 configuration called POD for Process on Demand. It was installed in mid-1964 replacing a 7094/1401 computer system. Additional components of the system included two remaining 1401 systems and a keypunch operation. The purpose was to analyze and predict the behavior of this system under a variety of conditions without interfering with its operation. Indeed, experiments and analyses of the real system were prohibitive at that time, yet, data on the probable response of the system to increasing demands were vitally needed. Thus, some of the conditions explored with the model included: (1) increase or decrease in workload (2) changes in timing schedule of workload input (3) changes in balance of kinds of workload (4) addition or deletion or substitution of hardware (5) software changes which will produce known changes in system parameters (6) internal priority system change

Фестивал The Tamburitza Extravaganza и његова „еволуција” у музичком систему америчке тамбурице

The Tamburitza Extravaganza, a musical event in the United States organized by the Tamburitza Association of America (TAA), has presented tambura-based ensembles for over 50 years. At the event, American stylistic variants of Croatian and Serbian music are performed to exuberant diaspora audiences, and musicians are honored for sustaining tamburitza music. Drawing on the author’s experience as an Extravaganza performer, interviews with TAA members, published TAA documents, and published tamburitza sources, the Tamburitza Extravaganza is analyzed as a sui generis music festival using the musical ecosystem model.The Tamburitza Extravaganza [Тамбурашка екстраваганца], музичка манифестација у Сједињеним Америчким Државама коју организује Тамбурашка асоцијација Америке (ТАА), већ више од педесет година представља тамбурашке саставе. За заинтересовану дијаспору се у оквиру манифестације изводе стилизоване америчке варијанте хрватске и српске музике, а музичарима се одаје почаст за очување тамбурашке музике. На основу искуства аутора као извођача који је наступао на овом фестивалу, интервјуа са члановима ТАА и објављених докумената ове асоцијације, као и других објављених тамбурашких извора, The Tamburitza Extravaganza се у овом тексту анализира као sui generis музички фестивал уз помоћ концепта музичког екосистема