In this article, researchers Dick M. Carpenter II and Grant Clayton explore common enrollment systems (CESs)--how they work and what school leaders can learn from districts that have implemented CESs. Denver, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey) have rolled out this centralized enrollment process for all district-run and charter schools in their…

Focuses on the major issues faced by a school district throughout the implementation of a financial management information system. Describes how commercially available software was tailored to the specific needs of a Virginia school district. (MLF)

Presents the results from the Association of School Business Officials' 1987 member survey on automation. Results indicate types of computers and software programs in use and the steps to follow in selection of computers and software for administrative uses. Includes a statistical breakdown on the 30 questions used in the survey and three tables.…

To meet growing demands for collecting and using quality information for decision-making, many U.S. school districts are developing database systems that increase their responsiveness to schools and communities. This paper describes how Long Beach Unified School District (California) designed and implemented a Database Management Information…

To mine a large store of school data, a new technology (variously termed data warehousing, data marts, online analytical processing, and executive information systems) is emerging. Data warehousing helps school districts extract and restructure desired data from automated systems and create new databases designed to enhance analytical and…

For the past six years, Los Angeles County Office of Education (California) has used a state-of-the-art computerized transportation management system that produces $2 million annual net savings and provides prompt, accurate bus service for students, parents, and teachers. This article details routing and scheduling programs used. Includes seven…

A General Accounting Office (GAO) study evaluated the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) new facilities management information system (FMIS). Specifically, the study examined whether the new FMIS addresses the old system's weaknesses and meets BIA's management needs, whether BIA has finished validating the accuracy of data transferred from the old…

Using "Multimate On-File" on an IBM-PC microcomputer, a system was developed to help local and district school personnel match identified special education classroom needs with volunteer resources. The user-friendly "index card" software searches, sorts, and retrieves records and has features that can be customized to suit…

Provides tips for helping the public understand a school district's budget. Describes necessary parts of a simplified budget presentation and the $100 budget. Highlights a management-information software package called In$ite, developed by Coopers & Lybrand in conjunction with the US Chamber of Commerce. (LMI)

As of 1993, Nevada had no systems for statewide automation and transfer of student records. This guide book presents findings of a collaborative study, conducted by the Nevada Department of Education and local school districts, that explored the need for and feasibility of developing a statewide system for automating and transferring student…

This paper describes the first-year results of Distributive Information Systems for Campuses (DISC), a project implemented in the Austin Independent School District (Texas). The goal was to increase the data access and information-generating capabilities of campuses by decentralizing data manipulation functions, while maintaining centralized data…

A computer software package called Schools Information Management Systems (SIMS) is available in Great Britain for application to special education uses. The system stores, manipulates, and retrieves information on pupils, medical examinations, staffing, individualized education programs, local resource management, timetables, and attendance.…

This paper suggests methods for collecting and using student information for school improvement by describing how the Richardson Independent School District (RISD), Texas, determines data for effective school management decisionmaking. RISD readily accesses student information via a networked database on line with the central office's IBM…

Continues the discussion of the Association of School Business Officials' 1987 member survey on automation, citing computer applications in use by enrollment size. Only the number of applications in wide use increases with enrollment size. A rough measure of satisfaction with software vendors highlights two companies. (MLF)

School districts have begun examining the feasibility of, and in some cases are developing and implementing automated systems for, managing and evaluating instructional programs. This paper describes and analyzes the issues and problems that emerged over the course of three projects--a large suburban school in the West, a consortium of five small…