Fifteen questions about research policy at higher education institutions are posed. The questions address concerns about the credibility and integrity of institutions that perform research in the national interest and are intended to stimulate discussion by policymakers as the country enters a period of likely reductions in federal basic research…

The State University of New York at Albany initiated a pioneering university/philanthropist/school district partnership building on the success of millionaire Eugene Lang's 1981 offer to pay college tuition for 61 East Harlem sixth graders. SUNY's School of Education offers administrative expertise and plans enrichment activities for 96 inner-city…

Day-care centers may ask for and obtain unspent money set aside by parents for child-care expenses, using employer-provided dependent care plans. Recommends tips for working with parents, steps for keeping accurate records, and ideas for the future. (SM)

A Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) is a specially designed multiclass, pay-through bond. Explains CMOs and how their purchase can enhance a district's portfolio. (MLF)

Defying rules or specifications, charter-school administrators might be traditional school principals, teachers, parents, community members, or organization leaders. Leaders receive assistance from various sources: advocacy groups, sponsoring agencies, regional representatives, universities, and "edventurists" (educator-venture capitalists).…

Colleges and universities must build and maintain a robust, comprehensive technology infrastructure to provide needed services today and in the future. Significant financial, technical, and human resource challenges inhibit achievement of this infrastructure. Rider University (New Jersey) solved the problem by forming a partnership with Bell…

After years of cutbacks, the pivotal role of public libraries in providing lifelong learning resources is being recognized. In Britain, a consortium for public-library networking is extending libraries' ability to deliver knowledge-based services. (SK)

Describes the philanthropic activities of Lady Elizabeth Hastings and the local provision of rural charity schools in 18th-century England. Covers Hastings' background, her establishment of girls' charity schools, charity-school curricula, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and charity-school teachers. Evaluates Hastings'…

Although Learning Society rhetoric sees the emergence of a democratic, participatory culture, the structures of local government that enable democratic participation have been seriously weakened in England and Wales. The new "contract culture" for lifelong learning may not be the right model for developing civil society. (SK)

The 40 tables of this report summarize information about libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 1996. Includes information about public library service measures, administration and staffing, and other characteristics. (SLD)

Discusses the alternative funding avenues school districts have used to support facility construction and improvements when tax levies and state aid are not enough. Acquiring donations, creating lease-purchase agreements, and using tax increment financing are highlighted. (GR)

Addresses the changes in higher education in the United Kingdom focusing on four specific topics: (1) organizational changes; (2) increases in student numbers; (3) financial changes; and (4) new approaches to assessing the quality of teaching. Attempts to indicate the effects of these various changes on the teaching of psychology. (CMK)

Examines Colorado's Second Chance Pilot Program for Dropouts, designed to reduce the number of dropouts through Second Chance Centers giving students the opportunity to complete requirements for a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Although limited in success, the program provides a model for the funding of alternative schools. (SLD)

Constructed a child care subsidy tax investment model to investigate the contribution to families' self-sufficiency and to government cost-effectiveness of child care subsidies. Concluded that subsidies act both to keep families from ever needing welfare and to help move families from welfare to work, and that while reaching these goals, the…

Profiles Elnora D. Daniel, president of Chicago State University, and outlines the changes she is bringing to this often neglected school. Her first order of business has been to raise admissions standards to focus on quality rather than quantity. Other efforts center on increasing funding for the school , which, although not a historically black…