Financial Crisis in Catholic Education: An Evaluation Study of Three Alternative Funding Models.

The purpose of the study was to examine three different funding models for Catholic Education, and explore how the models meet the goals of Catholic Identity and education. In addition, the study looked to find the feasibility of these particular alternative funding methods to meet any deficiencies seen in school enrollment of at-risk students. The decline in Catholic school education opportunities, specifically within urban areas, is due in part to an exodus of parishioners relocating from urban to suburban areas. This trend affected the traditional Catholic educational funding model as Catholic schools primarily derive support from local parishes within those urban areas. Furthermore, the decline in the supply of nuns who serve as educators resulted in tuition increases to cover the additional cost of salaried teachers in place of the nuns who taught for little or no salary. The rising tuition has made the opportunity to achieve a Catholic education less accessible and affordable for the marginalized population. This study explores three nontraditional funding models that are focusing efforts on revitalizing Catholic education, within urban areas. The Voucher, Corporate/Cristo Rey, and Philanthropy methods were researched through a qualitative evaluation study in an effort to better understand the sustainability and impact each model has on Catholic education. Participants from each model were interviewed to add depth to the document review and enhance understanding from a first person perspective. The major findings revealed a need for funding reform to ensure Catholic education achieves its goals and all models studied have made a significant positive impact on the achievement of those goals. The Voucher model was seen to be the most effective and sustainable across the board as its financial provisions from the government provided a more stable and consistent revenue source

Experimental Estimation of the GPR Groundwave Sampling Depth

Monitoring near-surface soil water content is essential for efficient water management and for understanding hydrologic processes in soils. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) groundwaves are an approach that can be used to monitor the near-surface soil water content, but the efficacy of this technique is currently limited by the uncertainty surrounding the groundwave sampling depth. This research experimentally determines the sampling depth of GPR groundwaves under dry and saturated conditions in a sandy soil. Data were acquired using 250, 500, and 1000 MHz antennas within an experimental tank containing soil layers of contrasting electromagnetic velocities. Results show that the groundwave sampling depth is a function of frequency in both dry and saturated soils, and sampling depth is inversely related to frequency. A comparison of data acquired under dry and saturated conditions indicates that the groundwave sampling depth is slightly less in saturated soil than in dry soil, but the dependence of sampling depth on soil water content may be less than has been predicted using numerical modeling. The minimum sampling depth observed in this experiment was 12 cm for the 1000 MHz antennas in saturated sand, and the maximum sampling depth was 30 cm for the 250 MHz antennas in dry sand

Predictive Values of Factors Affecting Reading Comprehension Assessment

The complex nature of reading comprehension makes it challenging to assess. Comprehension assessment results frequently do not directly indicate which skills should be addressed to remediate comprehension difficulties. The current study investigated which underlying skills are most related to a common reading comprehension test. The reading skills that were measured in this study include single-word reading accuracy, single-word reading fluency, textual reading fluency and accuracy, oral reading comprehension abilities, and silent reading comprehension abilities. The findings indicate that reading rate is associated with oral reading comprehension abilities and that word reading accuracy is important for oral reading comprehension abilities

The efficacy of bariatric surgery performed in the public sector for obese patients with comorbid conditions

Objective: To determine the effi cacy of bariatric surgery in the public sector for the treatment of complicated obesity. Design, setting and participants: A longitudinal observational study of obese participants with comorbid conditions, aged 21-73 years, who underwent publicly funded bariatric surgery. Data were extracted from clinical databases (1 October 2009 to 1 September 2013) and recorded at seven time points. Participants are from an ongoing public obesity program. Main outcome measures: Postoperative weight loss and partial or full resolution of: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidaemia and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Results: The 65 participants in the cohort lost a mean weight of 22.6 kg (SD, 9.5 kg) by 3 months, 34.2.kg (SD, 20.1 kg) by 12 months and 39.9 kg (SD, 31.4 kg) by 24 months (P < 0.001). Body mass index (BMI) decreased from a preoperative mean of 48.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (SD, 9.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) to 35.7 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (SD, 7.7 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) by 24 months (P < 0.001). Full resolution of comorbid conditions by 18 months (P < 0.001) was achieved by almost half of those with baseline T2DM, nearly two-thirds with HTN and three-quarters of those with OSA, with continued improvements beyond 24 months. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery performed in the public sector is efficacious in the treatment of obese patients with comorbid conditions. Our findings parallel similar studies suggesting that there is equal benefit in publicly funded and privately performed procedures. This study highlights that obese patients reliant on public health care maintain sufficient intrinsic motivation in the absence of payment and supposed value-driven incentive. Improved access to bariatric surgery in the public sector can justifiably reduce the health inequities for those most in need

Factors Affecting Sensitivity to Frequency Change in School-Age Children and Adults

The factors affecting frequency discrimination in school-age children are poorly understood. The goal of the present study was to evaluate developmental effects related to memory for pitch and the utilization of temporal fine structure

Addressing Barriers to Universal Screening for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Risk in Elementary Schools

Early identification of students in need of additional support in the classroom is an important structure for school districts to have in place. Universal screening for social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) risk is one method that schools can use to identify students in need of SEB support and to begin early intervention programing. Unfortunately, recommendations about universal screening and resources for universal screening for SEB risk are limited. As a result, barriers to screening are increased and interventions are delayed – sometimes indefinitely -- for those who need them most. This paper discusses the barriers and challenges experienced by elementary schools (grades K-5) in one school district in the South across a three-year consultative study. This district was supported by the researchers in identifying an appropriate SEB screener, in disseminating the screener, and in ensuring accuracy in its completion. Across the three years, data were evaluated from previous years, and recommendations to improve the district’s screening initiative were made by the lead consultant and school psychology graduate students. Over time, positive changes were noted in screening practices, but it is evident that more work needs to be done. Specific solutions and future implications for early childhood are discussed

Establishing a Conditional Driver Permit in Texas.

Abstract Forthcoming