The locally-elected school board is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining, developing and operating local schools. School board members make important decisions with long-lasting implications for their community and its citizens. They establish a vision for the public education system in their community, are responsible for hiring and…

A decade ago, before the tech boom collapsed and the digital economy bubble burst, it seemed to some that issues surrounding information technology (IT) might be central to the politics of the early 21st century. But after September 11, 2001, with so much else on everyone's minds, "digital politics" seemed a boring sideshow. Technocrats,…

Attempts to define what counted as policy documents and discourse during the three days of a Reading Leadership Academy, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Presents a discourse and critical policy analysis of the Reading First initiative. Explores further the statements around what constituted good programs and, by inference, what…

This guide, addressed to policymakers, describes specific programs to support the educational role of the family. Based on demonstrated research, it lays out low-cost methods to enhance the impact of schooling by involving the family. Following an executive summary, the volume presents six main sections, with recommendations for addressing the…

The six issues examined in this discussion guide on the conference theme, Library and Information Services for Effectively Governing Society, are introduced by brief discussions providing background on libraries and governing society, and the roles of the library in enhancing the government of society in the future. The six issues are concerned…

This book examines disability related housing and support services in Canada. It describes the major sources of funding supporting these services and analyzes associated problems. A variety of policy options for improving the availability and quality of disability-related housing and support services is offered. The first chapter briefly describes…

This packet of questionnaires and guides is designed to garner information about public opinion concerning policy for guiding the National Institute of Education's (NIE) curriculum activities. The following questions are focused on: (1) How should NIE define "curriculum"? (2) Should NIE help develop new curricula? (3) Should NIE evaluate…

The purpose of this guide, one of the nine-booklet Teacher Quality Series, is to help educational policymakers develop better policies by explaining how to use a compensation plan to improve education and how to make one work. It also encourages consideration of alternative policies to improve education. Each section introduces common positions on…

Designed to increase public awareness of military spending, this 5-part guide examines the process and problems of preparing the national defense budget. The publication begins with a brief overview of the 1984 defense budget. Major military programs, trends in budgeting, and key concerns in budget formulation are explored. Graphs and charts…

Appropriate for secondary school social studies, this booklet considers the decline of certain basic industries in the United States and the unemployment which accompanies this decline. The document contains five sections. Section one, "The Blue-Collar Blues," examines the uneven nature of the current economic recovery, which has left many…

This discussion guide on the conference theme, Library and Information Services for Improving Organizations and the Professions, focuses on the information needs of organizational and professional constituencies, including business. It is intended to serve as a guide for the discussion of issues raised in this theme area. Following a general…

School leaders cannot afford to be bystanders in the campaign to rewrite telecommunications laws and regulations for building the National Information Superhighway. Proposes a coalition representing all public schools to demand recognition in the development of telecommunications policy. (MLF)

Effective government relations is the key to meeting the fiscal and legislative needs of public education. This fastback is designed to help educators establish an effective government-relations program. It offers suggestions for identifying legislative priorities; forming internal and external networks and coalitions in support of the legislative…

More people than ever are using coastal waters for recreation and business activities and living along the shores. This puts more pressure on natural resources and creates more conflicts between the people using the resources. This guidebook is designed to help citizens develop an understanding of how coastal management works. Four chapters in…

Experiences of different countries in establishing mechanisms to coordinate development of higher education systems, diversify institutional financing, and increase efficiency of public investments are examined. Attention is drawn to the need for effective policy structures to manage higher education, link reform costs to benefits, acknowledge…