This biographical narrative of Sara Joyner (1900-1967), Virginia's first state art supervisor, draws on writings by Joyner, original state Department of Education reports, and personal interviews to describe an exceptional art educator, activist, and founder of the National Art Education Association (NAEA). As a White, privileged woman raised in…

High-poverty schools in rural areas and small towns are under attack from state policy makers who want to consolidate these schools in order to save money. In addition to calls for consolidation, rural schools also are threatened by unfair and inadequate funding formulas.

Interviews with state legislators from Wisconsin (D. Bezruki), Massachusetts (T. P. Kennedy), and Virginia (P. Leone) illustrate the roles that evaluation is playing in the current state budget crisis. The influence of evaluation data appears largely specific to individual programs rather than systematically applied to the budgeting process. (SLD)

To determine the effect on legislative decision making of five selected influences questionnaires were sent to members of the Virginia General Assembly (139 in 1986, and 140 in 1988). A response rate of more than 50 percent was achieved. On 22 of the 26 education-related bills studied, personal feelings were the most important influence. (seven…

State-mandated assessment of student outcomes has emerged as a new feature in the higher education landscape. Many states have linked an institution's response to eligibility for incentive funds or other tangible rewards. The actual effects of these initiatives were studied in five states: Colorado, Missouri, New Jersey, South Dakota, and…

In the 1990s, Virginia launched one of the nation's most ambitious standards-based reform efforts. Encouraged by a budding national accountability movement and motivated by conservative distrust of the public school establishment, state officials sought to clarify what students needed to know and to hold students and educators accountable for…

Members of the Virginia senate and Virginia community college presidents were asked to indicate their level of agreement with the importance of state funding for 31 potential community college activities. Reports a high level of agreement and congruence between the two groups. (DMM)