Examines the measurement of class size and a related measure, the student-teacher ratio, and considers the variations across states in class size and student-teacher ratios. Student-teacher teacher ratios are consistently lower than average class size because class-size figures do not reflect the use of specialized teachers or those who work in…

Increases in expenditures per student by 3.5% per year from 1890-1990 resulted from falling student-staff ratios, increased teacher wages, and rising expenditures outside the classroom. Most of the expenditure growth in the 1980s came from sources other than special education spending. Teacher salaries, especially for females, failed to keep up…

Examines school spending and student achievement as measured by the Massachusetts Educational Assessment Program tests, revealing that high spending in and of itself does not ensure achievement. The data suggest that other factors influence outcomes at least as much as spending. (GR)

Discussion of technology planning in schools focuses on the total cost of ownership, a model from business that can be helpful in determining the real costs of educational technology. Highlights include learning resources; organizational impacts and management; computer network resources, including software; research and development; and spirit…

Analyzed professional development spending at a recently restructured urban high school using information from budget and planning documents and interviews with school and district personnel. Data show that teachers in this school received $9,711 professional development resources on average with 98% of the spending on teacher time and training.…

Discusses current issues in the funding of charter schools: (1) inter-district inequalities; (2) intra-district inequalities; (3) inadequate spending; and (4) special needs funding. Explores four additional issues related to the core identity of charter schools and the nature of their students. Devotes extra attention to charter schools in…

Compares 48 features of four versions of the ERIC database, two commercial (SilverPlatter, FirstSearch) and two free (AskERIC.org, SeachERIC.org), to determine whether features of the commercial versions were worth the cost to academic libraries. Reports results of a survey that investigated user preferences, and concludes that value added…

A national study found private giving to colleges rose substantially in 1996, largely due to strong stock market performance. Adjusted for inflation, the rate of giving was 8.8% at a time when costs rose 2% and enrollments rose 1%. Research and doctoral universities received 67% of donations, and public institutions in this group fared better than…

Using a cost-construction model, cost of the University of Texas-Houston Medical School program, instructional costs, educational costs, and milieu costs were calculated. Sensitivity analysis revealed the financial effects of various factors, some of which increased and some of which decreased cost. Despite inherent complexities of the method and…

Focuses on library economic metrics, and presents a conceptual framework for library economic metrics including service input and output, performance, usage, effectiveness, outcomes, impact, and cost and benefit comparisons. Gives examples of these measures for comparison of library electronic and print collections and collection services.…

Describes how budget cuts in many states are forcing public colleges to trim technology spending and require students to pay more for computer services. (EV)

Discusses budgeting for corporate libraries and how to keep budgets from getting cut. Topics include whether the budget is considered corporate overhead; recovering costs; models for content cost recovery; showing return on library investment; marketing library value to senior management; user needs and satisfaction; and comparing budgets to other…

Discusses issues and procedures involved in auditing the automated acquisitions system at Ohio State University Libraries. The audit process is explained, internal controls within the system are identified, general control mechanisms such as limited electronic access are discussed, and application control mechanisms that relate to specific…

State Medicaid expenditures for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) increased sharply between 1980 and 1984. The ICF-MR bed capacity declined relative to the total state population, while numbers of ICF-MR Medicaid recipients increased. Trends among states are examined, emphasizing changes in demographic factors,…

Reviews the trends in scholarly publishing that are forcing many academic libraries to cancel subscriptions to high priced or seldom used titles. A strategy of librarian-faculty communications in which faculty awareness and support were enlisted during a periodicals cancellation effort at Idaho State University is described. (31 references) (CLB)