Growing concern over the complexity of the federal financial aid system and a push toward simplification has led to increased attention toward streamlining the federal student aid programs. Specifically, several proposals and policy papers have recommended consolidating the federal aid programs into one grant program and one loan program, commonly…

Much has been written on the subject of school turnaround, but relatively little about how to "pay for" turnaround-related work. Turning around low-performing schools not only requires changing instructional and related practices, but changing spending patterns as well. Too often education dollars are spent on the same costs from…

At the request of Congressman Ted Weiss, the General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed discretionary grant funding practices by the Office of Human Development Services (OHDS) for National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect projects. The GAO investigation focused on the extent to which OHDS selected and rejected full grant applications and…

This study evaluated the effect of training on improving the reliability of the peer review process by determining whether or not training made a difference in the variability among reviewers' scores and documentation provided to support the scores. Different levels of training were provided for participants in the peer review process who were…

The chairman of the Committee on Labs and Centers, National Council on Educational Research, policymaking body for the National Institute of Education (NIE), states that education issues cannot be separated from questions of philosophy. Shared values represent an appropriate and useful utilization of taxpayer money at NIE. (MLF)

This report evaluates data collected in the 1981 survey of school district perceptions of the benefits and problems associated with 27 federal competitive grant programs. The survey had three general objectives: (1) determine the number of districts participating in these programs from 1978-80, (2) identify why districts do or do not apply for…

The decision by a Reagan administration appointee to terminate funding of 13 validated projects illustrates the influence of politics on policy. (Author)

These guidelines are designed to assist public agencies in Wisconsin to apply for education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Preschool Grant Program, and Public Law 89-313 (amendments to Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965). After an introduction which briefly describes each of…

This booklet is a guide to assist school districts in administering Chapter 1 projects funded through the 1988 Elementary and Secondary School Improvement amendments and focuses on areas of flexibility in Chapter 1 funding. An overview of Chapter 1 flexibility emphasizes that the legislation is designed to best meet the special educational needs…

This report proposes reform recommendations in the Federal Student Loan Program that are intended to reduce government (and taxpayer) costs, allow for the incorporation of the National Service Initiative, and provide more flexible repayment terms for borrowers. The proposal provides for an evaluation period for direct government lending, the…

A National Institute of Education (NIE) policy statement is presented regarding competition for future funding of regional educational laboratories and research and development (R&D) centers with appropriations available for Section 405(f) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). Attention is also directed to continuing eligibility of…