This report provides six mini-case studies of higher education policy reforms enacted in other states, exploring the important role that state policy leadership played in developing, promoting, and implementing these policies aimed at improving higher education outcomes, and discussing the relevance of each reform effort for California. This…

South Dakota State leaders decided a few years ago to make a commitment to educational technology and distance education. The result is a blend of public and private support for educational change focused on increased use of instructional technology and distance education. The May/June 2001 issue of "Tech Trends" presents ideas from…

THE REPORTING COMMITTEE, DIRECTED BY A SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, HAS INVESTIGATED THE FINANCIAL ROLE OF THE STATE AS IT RELATES TO ASSISTANCE OF JUNIOR COLLEGES IN THE AREA OF CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION. THE CURRENT PROGRAM OF STATE SUPPORT IS REVIEWED, AND A NEW PLAN IS PROPOSED IN WHICH SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM ARE TO BE…

This report by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to the Governor and the General Assembly identifies the major issues facing the state, and makes recommendations. Tennessee must expand educational opportunity for its young people and provide more programs and assistance for disadvantaged and low income youth. The community college program…

The evaluation design described was used to aid the governing board to reach a policy decision about expanding the California Early Childhood Education program (renamed the School Improvement Program) in the Lafayette School District. Descriptions of procedures, question formats, audiences involved, and results are included. (MH)

Designed to assist Missouri citizens in understanding the role played by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, this guide begins by noting that the board performs four major functions: (1) statewide planning; (2) policy analysis; (3) academic program approval and review; and (4) budget recommendations to the Governor and General…

A rebuttal is offered to the criticisms made of the State Education Department (SED) and its Board of Regents in a program audit of the Legislative Commission on Expenditure Review (LCER). Comments of four major types are made. First, the Regents contend that the LCER report ignored many of the SED's activities in the area of instructional fixed…

LEGISLATION IN 1963 AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES NECCESSITATED THIS SURVEY TO DETERMINE SUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS FOR INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TYPE OF PROGRAMS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL FOCUS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXISTING VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL PROGRAMS AND STATEWIDE ADULT EXTENSION PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITY…

Interrelations between the states and higher education are examined, and a generally optimistic outlook is presented. Two major sections are given, one commentary, the other descriptive. The commentary has these major themes: (1) American higher education, with federal, state, and private funding, has been comparatively effective; (2) some surplus…

Annual reports from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces are presented. They focus on problems, activities, achievements, and other areas of interest to the postsecondary education community. Each state commission on higher education reviews such topics as pertinent legislative actions, priorities, enrollment,…

Addresses the historical origins of the State University of New York and its system of community colleges, particularly its contemporary structure and nature in the areas of funding, governance, faculty, students, and programs. Discusses current issues such as (1) statewide budget problems; (2) the underprepared student; (3) distance learning; and…

The system of school finance equity in Texas is described as it existed before the court case Edgewood Independent School District (ISD) v. Kirby, and the overhaul mandated by legal rulings in the evolving Edgewood case is reviewed. In Texas, as elsewhere, the system of school finance has historically been based on the local property taxes…

This paper presents a set of general observations about state-sponsored school improvement initiatives with data from several sources. One major source is the Research for Better Schools, Inc., Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), implementation study, "Facing the Challenge: Selected Programs and Practices of the Urban Initiative's Operation School…

Cable television for the State of New York is discussed in detail with relation to: (1) the regents of the University of the State of New York, (2) legislation, (3) planning and proposals for franchises, (4) the Federal Communications Commission, (5) access rules, (6) a list of companies and those serving schools, and (7) federal/state/local…