Discusses philosophy and economics of charging users for library services. Free services are advocated for reasons of equal access and intellectual freedom, and alternatives to charging are suggested, citing Seattle Public Library as an example. Opinions and statistics on library fees excerpted from the current literature are included. (CDD)

A survey of absentee voting in the Highline (Washington) School District revealed that mailed-in ballots have no better than--and often less than--a 50-50 chance of favoring school finance issues. School officials should reconsider encouraging the growth of voting by mail. (IW)

The effect on enrollment of two methods of financing public postsecondary education--blanket and targeted subsidies--is reviewed. Although targeted subsidies generally promote efficiency and equity, three reservations about their assumed effects on enrollment are discussed. (Author/MLW)

A symposium sponsored by the Eastern Division of the Music Educators National Conference and 12 state music associations to discuss the impact of recent education reports on music education is described. Strategies for strengthening music education are presented. (RM)

Six physical plant managers at various types of educational institutions review the mixed results of their strategies to secure funds for deferred maintenance projects. (MJL)

This document examines the need to reform education in America. The goal of the United States is to double the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates with bachelor's degrees by 2015. A core set of recommendations are reviewed: (1) Build public support for making science, technology, engineering and math improvement a…

This fastback document summarizes ways that schools can establish and maintain a sound public-relations program. It states that public relations should be on an equal footing with all other school functions, especially since public schools are facing increasing competition from nonpublic schools. When developing a public-relations plan, an…

This paper describes the efforts of educators in communities nationwide to engage the public in teaching and learning activities, specifically in support of teacher professional development. Though there is no single model for positive public engagement, there are general principles, which include: finding an entry point (e.g., finding key…

Efforts in school-finance reform in recent years have been directed by court-mandated remedies for equity and adequacy. This report contends that the typical judicial remedy overlooks the fundamental causes of inequities in public education, and the potential for reform through expansion of parental choice. It combines existing data with insights…

This report summarizes key findings from a 2001 nationwide poll regarding support and need for after-school programs. Participating in the poll were 800 adults over age 18 who are registered to vote. The findings included the following: (1) 94 percent of respondents agreed that there is a need for some type of organized activity or place where…

This monograph describes media strategies that advocates for gifted children can use to promote gifted and talented education. It begins by discussing different types of media outlets that advocates can use to get their message across, including television, radio, newspapers, and the Internet. The tools of media work are then described. Ways to…

An annual school bond survey for New Jersey reveals that while the state's voters had approved 60 percent of the school bond issues in 1998, the communities clearly could not meet the state's multi- billion dollar construction needs on their own. Further, communities with high property taxes had fewer bond elections and approved less of them than…

A 1999 annual school construction survey for New Jersey reveals that the state's voters approved 71.3 percent of the school construction elections, more than the previous year's approval rate of 60 percent. Construction costs also influenced regional approval rates which varied from 59.5 percent in the north to 89.3 percent in the south. Despite…

A report statistically examines the problem of deferred maintenance in U.S. public schools, including the repair funding required to comply with federal mandates in the next 3 years; federal, state, and local contributions by state in 1991-92; the estimated percentage of schools needing repairs listed by state; and the changes in apportionment of…

Compares and contrasts the standard projections of steadily increasing manpower needs in the major human service areas with the projections made by critics who doubt the efficacy of publicly supported human services. (JM)