Improving the educational outcomes of economically disadvantaged children is a policy priority in the United States, and yet relatively little progress has been made in recent decades. Education reforms that aim to help economically disadvantaged students often focus on improving the quality with which grade-level material is taught, or the…

Conventional wisdom says that the way to win more awards is to get researchers writing more proposals. Yet many incentives designed to stimulate proposal development can be hard on the bottom line, especially those that pay researchers for their time or to attend grant-writing workshops presented by outside consulting firms. This paper presents…

Western Michigan University has designed an innovative "Quasi-Revolving Fund" model that demonstrates the institution's full commitment to incorporating sustainability into campus operations. The Quasi-Revolving Fund recaptures money from cost-savings, similar to a typical green revolving fund, but it also sources capital from the…

It is the worst of times for state budgets. But across the country, some elected officials say it's the best time to rethink how their states spend money on education. Governors and other officeholders are arguing that their states have no choice but to re-examine assumptions about how schools are using the money they currently receive, given…

This article discusses the UK government's consultations on skills policy and further education funding. Adult learning has, throughout the years, been subject to endless strategies and proposed plans--but none of these has fully realised its potential. There are two contrasting attitudes to the outlook for further education and, indeed, the…

A cost/benefit analysis technique is recommended for school board members who need to evaluate alternatives presented for board action. The model involves four parts: product and evaluation, alternatives, cost analysis, and cost/benefit comparison. (Author/WD)

This second of a three-part series on grant writing for technology in education focuses on costs and benefits. Highlights include the cost of proposal writing, four categories of grant-writing situations based on cost and probability of funding, an implementation budget, and mathematical expectation. (Author/LRW)

Provides guidelines for preparing a proposal for funding a library literacy project, including funding sources; community needs statement; plan of operation, including goals and objectives and a time frame; quality of key personnel; budget and cost effectiveness; evaluation plan; adequacy of resources; and cooperation and coordination. (LRW)

A new organization is proposed that will serve as a regional library network for the midwestern United States: the Midwest Regional Library Network (MIDLNET). MIDLNET must meet four requirements in order to assure its success: it must meet the needs of the major academic research libraries in the area, it should be a limited sponsor network, it…

The Reagan Administration's proposals concerning the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) Program and possible alternatives are examined. A variety of proposals are analyzed in terms of the estimated cost savings and potential effects on the supply of and demand for student loans. Background is also included on the history of legislative changes and…

Prepared for the state legislature, this document is intended to supply practical information to help law makers and educators better understand the planning processes and cooperative efforts that currently exist among the public schools in the 18 counties of southwest and central Minnesota. Parts One and Three describe the planning process that…

This briefing paper provides background information and reports on the achievements and future challenges of the Preschool Grants Program of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Section 619 authorizes grants to states to provide special education and related services to children, ages 3 through 5 years, with disabilities. This…