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…

In exchange for $8-12-million from the state, historically black Texas Southern University has agreed to maintain a schedule to fix financial problems threatening the institution and keep it from state control. Three-quarters of students receive aid. Lax financial accountability is a long-time problem. The university's historic role in educating…

Reviews the effects of Proposition 13 on staffing and programs in California's community colleges. Describes a long-term finance plan that recommends: (1) no major changes in mission, goals, or priorities; (2) a marginal cost concept of support; (3) maintaining similar support patterns; and (4) overhauling the accountability system. (AYC)

This document discusses the Department of Education's (DOE) fiscal year 1999 financial audit results; the relationship between the audit findings and the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse; and the results of the General Accounting Office's (GAO) review of the DOE's grantback account. The DOE's financial activity is important to the federal…

Black colleges, it is suggested, suffer less from problems such as litigation, bargaining, etc. than do other institutions. However, other problems, such as financial ones, are acute. Aggressive approaches are needed in fund raising from corporations, foundations and alumni, and also in student recruitment. (Author/MLW)

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…

Librarians' interest in and concern with the legislative process and with their relationship with elected officials is accelerating. The obvious reason for this is the deteriorating financial situation facing libraries of all types. It has become critically important for the future of libraries that librarians become knowledgeable in the contest…

This document discusses the principles that guide the development of the contingent funding methods and the implementation criteria for the Partnership for Excellence Program, as well as significant issues and questions for the system to resolve. The first principle states that the level and pace of progress toward the Partnership goals are not…

The recent dramatic growth of postsecondary education is reviewed, and the context in which the state legislature and the higher education community will probably interact in the future is described. The era of rapid economic growth following World War II was accompanied by even more rapid increases in demand for college educated workers.…

This report on the Legislative Council begins by providing an indepth look at the policies of the Oregon educational environment and the changes beginning in the 1990s with legislation and policy changes that resulted in the ability to compare Oregon schools in ways that did not exist before. These commonalities created a framework in which the…

Community colleges are being challenged to plan ahead, and to be aware of and to anticipate the pressures of declining resources, changing student profiles and interests, and more competition for students and funds. In response to changing student characteristics, colleges must begin careful curriculum planning to provide students with transfer,…