The Greek school textbook is at the core of this article and is treated as a matter of policy. In 2003, the Greek Government decided to include the publishing of school textbooks in the current Community support framework and as a result school textbook publishing goes beyond Greek priorities and gains European interest, which means that the whole…

The post-incorporation further education (FE) sector has experienced a number of quasi-markets over the past 23 years designed to incentivise college agents (managers and lecturers) to meet government objectives. To create such quasi-markets principal-agent (P-A) solutions have been introduced in the form of a series of funding incentives and…

Compared with the former policies on early childhood education, the policies recently issued in mainland China clearly defined early childhood education as an integral part of education and social public welfare and stipulated the responsibilities of the government in its development, shifting the developmental orientation to promoting social…

The findings summarized in this report are intended to shed light on what it means to cultivate demand for the arts, why it is necessary and important to cultivate this demand, and what state arts agencies (SAAs) and other arts and education policymakers can do to help. The research considered only the benchmark arts central to public policy:…

The document results from part of the Policy Options Project which identified and analyzed policy issues related to the delivery of appropriate services to preschool handicapped children and their families in terms of the need for assuring appropriate services, the factors affecting such policies, and policy approaches for the implementation of…

This paper notes that financing policy is potentially the most powerful policy tool states can use to influence how institutions, students, and employers behave in ways consistent with broader public purposes. It is often not wielded effectively. After identifying elements of financing policy and major issues that relate to these elements, the…

During the first two decades of radio broadcasting in the United States, commercial broadcasters persuaded federal regulators, much of the public, and many educators that there was little need for independent noncommercial stations. Educational programming could be entrusted to "cooperation" between commercial hosts and guest educators.…

This study examines the structures of state funding and describes the ways 11 states govern, administer, and pay for student aid, including eligibility criteria and accountability strategies. Eleven states that are currently making some of the biggest investments in state funding for student aid are featured in this report: California, Florida,…

Asserts the United States is entering a period of social policy devolution, funding cuts for social benefits and services and a major philosophical shift in the premises underlying social policy. Discusses the implications of these policy trends on social work. Stresses the importance of social workers becoming informed about such developments to…

Reviews the history of proposals for accrediting public libraries nationally and examines four distinct proposals made from 1960 to 1988. The discussion addresses barriers to national accreditation of public libraries and the prospects for the success of the most recent proposal of the Commission for the Accreditation of Public Libraries. (23…

Social values, educational philosophy, politics, and decision-making are examined in a case study of political influence involving the National Diffusion Network (funded by the Department of Education), which supports the dissemination of exemplary curriculum programs meeting high priority needs. In 1982, 87 directors of ongoing programs were…

The private health financing system in the United States does not meet the needs of much of the population, especially midlife women (aged 35-65). It is no longer possible for anyone but the richest persons to pay for their own health care. This situation developed during the past 3 decades, during which employer-paid health care expanded…

The social security system in the United States is becoming increasingly unstable, as the amount of benefits paid to an ever larger number of retirees grows and the number of younger workers paying taxes to the system decreases. The problem will become especially acute in the years 2011 and after, as the members of the "baby boom"…

Describes issues facing policymakers dealing with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Addresses six challenges for policymakers: (1) protecting people from discrimination; (2) designing testing and screening programs; (3) developing safe and effective antiviral drugs; (4) planning for future vaccine trials; (5) organizing and…

This monograph on health problems and health systems throughout the world addresses the following topics: (1) global health patterns and prospects; (2) basic concepts on primary health care and prerequisites of support to primary health care; (3) organizing health system support for primary health care; (4) intersectoral support for primary health…