The Research Methodology Series is an ongoing program by the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools (CYFS) to provide information to social science researchers about important and cutting-edge research methodology and statistical approaches. Complete information on the 2009-2010 series can be found at this link: More ...

This nearly $10,000,000, 5-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), is under the direction of Drs. Susan M. Sheridan (PI and Center Director), Todd Glover, Gwen Nugent, Gina Kunz, and Jim Bovaird. Beginning July 1, 2009, the R²Ed Center will conduct cutting-edge rural education research. Ultimately, it aims to improve rural student learning in reading, science and math. It will do so by identifying how best to provide ongoing professional development to assist teachers in delivery of effective instructional strategies that produce the greatest outcomes for rural students. Research on rural education is limited, and the Center will provide the infrastructure, leadership and expertise to focus on unique rural needs. Nebraska school students will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the work to be conducted through this Center. The Center will reach students by enhancing the experiences of teachers (i.e., equipping them with new tools and research-based instructional techniques), who will transfer that new knowledge and skill set into their classrooms, thereby augmenting the classroom experiences of students. The results will be far-reaching. Nationally, nearly 10 million youth attend school in rural areas. In Nebraska, almost 30 percent of students attend rural schools, and 87 percent of the state’s school districts are considered rural. Teacher involvement in research occurring through this Rural Education Center will benefit at least 5,000 Nebraska students. Research-based answers to questions regarding teacher professional development and instructional innovations will guide improvements in professional development programs for rural teachers across Nebraska and the nation.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) is restructuring and shortening applications submitted for Fiscal Year 2011 funding (effective for all applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2010). Noteworthy changes include new forms, page limits, research plan criteria, biosketches, resources, and other important features of applications. All competing applications, including resubmissions, must use the new forms and adhere to new page limits and instructions. More details can be found at the NIH website:
http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/
restructured_applications.html

• Policy Announcement
• Table of Page Limits
• Details of Application Changes

The Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools is featured in the 2009 Research Fair Video highlighting the outstanding research conducted at the University of Nebraska. The video is titled Success through Synergy and can be viewed on the Office of Research web site http://research.unl.edu/video/SuccessThroughSynergy.mp4. (Quicktime player is needed to play this video. To download click here)

A video of the Rural Language and Literacy Connections (Rural LLC) grant is also highlighted on the Office of Research website at http://research.unl.edu/ video/RuralLiteracy320.mov

Both videos can be found on the video section of the Office
of Research's web site http://research.unl.edu/ videos.shtml.

The Casey Foundation's 20th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book provides a national and state-by-state look at the status of children in the United States. This year's companion essay outlines a series of action steps to improve the nation's use of data in creating policies that improve outcomes for children and families.

Find hundreds of indicators of child well-being for states, cities, and communities in the KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Download or order the 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Download or order the 2009 KIDS COUNT Essay Summary and Data Brief