This document reports on a range of issues, tasks, and accomplishments of the Committee on Higher Education of the 72nd Texas Legislature of the State of Texas. The report opens by listing charges to the committee in the following areas: (1) tuition and fees and causes and effects of recent increases; (2) need for student financial aid; (3) role,…

This report summarizes Colorado student aid program expenditures for 1992-93. The report reveals that: (1) the Colorado General Assembly provided $37.2 million for Colorado student aid programs for the 1992-93 fiscal year; (2) the total number of state aid awards and the average award increased in 1992-93 to an average of $908; (3) financial aid…

A national survey gathered information from 47 states concerning small-scale community living options of 15 or fewer placements for older individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. The survey collected data on long-term funding, support services, mandates and regulations, efforts of interagency task force planning, and…

The financing of Wisconsin's "Chapter 220" program, which is the primary means for implementing the 1988 federal court settlement of a school integration lawsuit, needs to be reformed. Total program costs may triple in 5 years, from about $32.5 million in 1986-87 to $90 million by the 1992-93 school year; per pupil costs could rise from…

The executive summary of the ninth annual report to Congress examines progress made in implementing the requirements mandated by P.L. 94-142, the Education of the Handicapped Act, as amended by P.L. 98-199 with a specific focus on activities during the school year 1985-86. Data are presented regarding the four major purposes of the Act: (1) to…

Providing a basis to help Alaskans determine future spending levels and priorities, this report traces how the state spent more than $26 billion in general funds from fiscal years 1981 through 1986 before oil prices crashed and brought state revenues tumbling down with them. Figures indicate that cumulative general fund expenditures over the…

The current condition of educational finance in Ontario and the factors influencing efforts at finance reform are examined in this report. Five key issues confronting school finance in Ontario are reviewed first: inequities caused by variations in district wealth; the failure of provincial support to keep pace with expenditures; the loss of…

The bilingual education programs of Connecticut are described. The 12 programs serviced 11,482 students in 1985-86; 93% of the program participants were dominant in Spanish. Seventy-one percent were in kindergarten through grade 5. Over 3,000 were new entrants to the program in that year. About 1 in 5 students in bilingual education were late…

This study examines the effects of recent statewide education reforms on small, rural schools in 13 Appalachian states. Education reform measures passed in the Appalachian states during 1982-1987 focused on improving schools through the following major approaches: (1) increased accountability through testing students and changing accreditation…

The results of a 1985 survey of members of the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted are presented. The survey was designed to portray the status of gifted education across the nation. Responses are presented (largely in table form) from members representing 48 states and the District of Columbia on three major topic areas (sample…

A summary is provided of Alaska's student loan program for postsecondary education. After a brief program descriptions giving the purposes and terms of the program, a question-and-answer section covers purposes and amount of loans, when application should be made, the application process, eligibility and repayments. A schedule of payments and…

In response to increased attention by federal and state agencies and community groups to the potential role of libraries in literacy education, the Office of Libraries and Learning Technologies (OLLT), initiated a national study of library involvement in literacy education. Using surveys and case studies of public libraries, public school…

The California Mentor Teacher Program, brought into being by California Senate Bill 813, is designed to retain and recognize excellent teachers and to improve the profession by enabling expert teachers to assist others. Four major issues to consider in developing mentor teacher programs are discussed. First is the importance of collaboration with…

Reported are the execution and outcomes of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Performance Funding Project at Tennessee Technological University, a pilot project seeking to explore the question of whether it is desirable and possible to allocate state funds to community colleges and universities on a performance effectiveness…

The primary sources of capital funds in Minnesota are the local capital expenditure levy and school district bond sales. The state provides assistance to low-wealth districts by providing a capital expenditure equalization aid program and two types of loans under the Maximum Effort School Aid Law. It has been argued that the concepts of equal…