Thirty years ago, charter schools embodied possibility. They were envisioned as nimble, innovative, community-driven alternatives to traditional public schools -- laboratories of experimentation led by teachers and grounded in equity. The grand bargain was clear: more freedom from regulations and bureaucracy in exchange for heightened…

When borrowers default on a federal student loan, it can have catastrophic consequences. Their credit scores drop dramatically, severely curtailing their ability to afford a home or a car, and even limiting their ability to sign up for utilities. The cost of their loan rises as late fees pile up. Moreover, the federal government can garnish…

This report consists of 19 conference papers, most of which focus on the current problems, issues, and trends in educational finance; while several deal with cost effectiveness and levels of productivity. Since the concept of productivity focuses on outputs, other papers are concerned with the output-oriented concepts of accountability and…

The administration of the Law Enforcement Education Program was investigated. The program was managed by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration until May 1980, when it was transferred to the new Department of Education. The program provides grants and loans to students enrolled in college programs leading to degrees in law enforcement or…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 poses unique challenges for rural schools and districts. Small schools are more likely to be labeled as needing improvement due to the volatility of annual test scores for small student populations. Rural districts are limited in their capacity to provide parents with school choice, and rural districts face…