The purpose of this study was to conduct an evaluation of the Maryvale Weed and Seed Coalition. First, a process evaluation was conducted to examine the implementation of policies, goals, and planned activities by Maryvale Weed and Seed. Afterwards, an impact evaluation was conducted to assess the efficacy of Maryvale Weed and Seed in combating crime and disorder in the designated program area. The sections below outline both the characteristics of the affected site and the methodology used to conduct the process and impact evaluations.

The purpose of the present study was to conduct an evaluation of the Kino Weed and Seed Coalition, using both qualitative and quantitative data to conduct process and impact evaluations. The process evaluation relied on official documents detailing site activities and focus group interviews with key stakeholders. The impact evaluation relied on call for service data from the Tucson Police Department from 1999 through 2005, divided into two categories represented by a three-year “pre-test” and four-year “post-test”. The results of the process evaluation indicated that the Kino Weed and Seed Coalition was actively engaged in activities pursuant of their original site goals, and adapting them as the site developed. The impact evaluation indicated that the rates of calls for service in the Kino Weed and Seed area declined significantly during the four years of official programmatic activities when compared to the three years prior for calls related to violent, property, drugs, and total crimes. Quality of life, or disorder, issues did have a slight increase during the implementation years compared to the pre-test years, but the change was not significant.

The purpose of the present study was to conduct an evaluation of the Canyon Corridor Weed and Seed, using both qualitative and quantitative data to conduct process and impact evaluations. The process evaluation relied on official documents detailing site activities and interviews with key stakeholders. The impact evaluation relied on Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and call for service (CFS) data from the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) from 2002 through 2007, divided into two categories represented by a four-year “pre-test” and two-year “post-test”. The results of the process evaluation indicated that the Canyon Corridor Weed and Seed was actively engaged in activities pursuant of their original site goals, and adapting them as the site developed. The impact evaluation indicated that the crime rates in the Canyon Corridor Weed and Seed area experienced mixed declines and increases during the past two years of official programmatic activities when compared to the four years prior for crimes related to violent, property, drugs, and total crimes.

The Arizona Department of Education is pleased to provide you with this state report card as a part of our compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law. We are working hard to raise academic standards for Arizona students. We are also holding our schools accountable for how well students perform academically. We are restoring classroom discipline, which is an essential component for achieving academic excellence. We also have an extensive state program to help schools whose test scores show a need for improvement. We are working hard to make sure Arizona students and schools are performing to their absolute potential.

In view of the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in American youths, the Arizona Department of Education’s Health and Nutrition Services has taken the initiative to evaluate the nutritional content of competitive foods and beverages sold on school campuses in Arizona. This study also intends to evaluate the financial implications to schools when replacing foods and beverages found to be less nutritious with healthier choices.

The Team Nutrition Grant Project began in 2003 with the goal to guide and assist schools to create and maintain a coordinated, comprehensive school health program. Such a program integrates a school’s child nutrition programs, with the classroom, the community, and entire school environment. A coordinated, comprehensive school health program (CSHP) can be implemented to create a healthy school environment through a “model” nutrition policy. Using the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Team Nutrition’s Changing the Scene, A Guide to Local Action, the project proposed to implement the model at a state level by forming a state level coalition of key decision makers within the school environment.

Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) is the statewide, standards-based assessment. AIMS measures the performance of students, schools, and districts on academic standards in reading, writing, and mathematics and is administered to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and high school. The central components of standards-based education include a curriculum aligned to the Standards, instructional materials aligned to the Standards, and the evaluation of teachers to ensure the Standards are integrated into instructional practices. These components are the organizational foundation for successful student achievement of the skills and knowledge of the Standards.