This report, part of a project called "Redesigning Higher Education", argues that a set of fundamental changes underlies the growing number of critical difficulties faced by higher education in the United States. It finds the governance structures of American higher education inadequate to deal with a changing and increasingly cost-conscious…

This book analyzes microlevel resource-allocation practices from a variety of levels within the educational system: the school board, district administration, building level, and classroom. Chapters include: "Productive Schools from a Policy Perspective: Desiderata, Designs, and Dilemmas" (W. L. Boyd); "The Politics of Educational Productivity"…

A summary of proposed K-12 educational spending in California for 1998-99, comparing today's proposals with expenditure patterns of the recent past, is presented in this report. The text highlights current spending proposals and provides some background on historical spending patterns and their causes, as well as demographic information on the 5.3…

The implementation of standards-based reform has been a goal of state policy makers for the last 10 years. States have also restructured their governance systems with the intention of distributing more authority to local decision-makers. However, even the high standards of this type of reform, and the strong incentives to encourage the change, are…

Some of the issues surrounding school productivity are discussed in this ERIC digest. It presents the results of early research that explored whether there is a relationship between educational funding and student outcomes. Some of the reasons behind schools' productivity problems are presented, including problems with unstable governance and the…

This audit report focuses on transportation costs and practices incurred by the Preschool Handicapped Education Program for counties outside of New York City from July 1, 1994 through March 31, 1998, and addresses the level of cooperation between counties and the State Education Department. The report also includes recommendations for improvement…

This report summarizes testimony of Franklin Frazier, Director of Education and Employment Issues, the Human Resources Division of the Government Accounting Office, concerning the need for improved federal leadership in helping states utilize the "order of selection" provision (in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) to provide rehabilitation…

The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Title II-A program is the main federal effort to enhance the employability of economically disadvantaged youths and adults. The amount of funds allotted to each state is determined by a formula that allocates two-thirds of available funds on the basis of relative unemployment levels and one-third on the…

Under the authority of Section 406A of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), the U.S. Department of Education (ED) collects information on how funds are distributed under federal education programs that are administered by the states. ED collected information from the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1988. This…

This publication presents case studies of 10 colleges and universities that developed creative approaches to resource allocation in order to confront the fiscal realities facing higher education. The case studies describe strategic review and planning efforts in times of fiscal austerity. They look at streamlining, but also explore permanent…

Over the past decade, public universities' expenditures for research and public service activities have increased faster than overall expenditures. This report presents information on direct expenditures for instruction, research, and public service at Illinois public universities during fiscal year 1992 and compares these findings to measures of…

The content of the 1988 Bilingual Education Act, which is part of Public Law 100-297 (the Hawkins/Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments) and which reauthorized bilingual education through September 30, 1993, is examined. The 1988 reauthorization was the fourth reauthorization of the original Bilingual Education Act of…

Evaluation findings on the effectiveness of Chapter 2-assisted programs in Delaware are summarized in this report. The first section provides a financial overview of 1988-89 programs, comparing the proposed budget with actual expenditures. The second section focuses on the use of state "set-aside" funds, identifying those allocated for…

The initial stage of a model that simulates net prices facing degree students in New York State postsecondary institutions is described. The Student Support Sources model uses readily available data sources to simulate the processes by which family and student resources and financial aid are allocated to different types of students enrolled at…

Labeled a "citizen assessment," this study evaluates the effects of Massachusetts 2-1/2 during the first year after its enactment. The law limited taxes and changed laws relating to school budgets. The study focused on two areas: (1) the effect of loss of fiscal autonomy on school budgeting procedures, and (2) the changes in school…