The contributions are reviewed of the federal education block grant--Chapter Two of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981--to local educational improvement. Educational technology and staff and curricular development have been enhanced by the block grant, but improvements remain modest, with depth of impact traded for breadth.…

The forced choice involved in diverting funds from one set of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) to another is a significant health policy issue. The tradeoff in decisions about allocations between acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and traditional STD programs are grim. Funding should be appropriated for vigorous efforts on both fronts.…

An overview of the 68 optometric residencies offered at 35 health care facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs looks at the resident selection system, accrediting and position funding, and growth in residency positions since 1975. A new primary care education program open to a number of health care disciplines is highlighted. (MSE)

Some development officers at historically black colleges are seeking strategies to cultivate white alumni for fund raising, as volunteers, and for recruiting students. The challenges are similar to those faced by predominantly white colleges in reaching black alumni. Some see racial bias as a barrier. (MSE)

The University of Warwick's Warwick Manufacturing Group is a research and development center 90% funded by industry. Similar developments are foreseen due to the expectations of students for workforce preparation, demographic and technological change, and decreased public funding. (SK)

Agencies that served as field placements for the Simmons College School of Social Work (n=101) responded to questionnaires asking about the effects of major funding cuts on their agencies and their training of social work interns. Although more than half reported supervisory cutbacks and increased dependence on less experienced staff, the agencies…

Reports on the results of a study undertaken in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in 1992 of the use of contracting arrangements in children's services. Highlights the positive and negative aspects of contracting for both contractors and providers, and discusses the impact of this approach for the traditional differentiation between nongovernmental…

Addresses issues relating to federal legislation that provides electronic access to federal databases and information through the Government Printing Office (GPO). Highlights include the role of depository libraries; public access; funding; publishing restrictions; national standards; and political issues, including opposition from the National…

An annual survey reveals that private giving to 992 colleges rose 10.3% in 1993-94, 7.6% when adjusted for inflation, the sharpest increase since 1986-87. The trend is attributed to improvement and increasing confidence in the economy. The greatest increase in giving was at public, master's-granting institutions. Alumni provided 28% of total…

Examines a trend toward increased corporate funding of upgrades to aging academic labs and equipment prompted by the loss of federal money. Discusses the benefits and dangers of university alignment with industrial research agendas. (LZ)

Finds that two-thirds of advisers do not believe administrators influence newspaper content; 4.3% of advisers nationally complied with administrative requests not to publish news articles; 12.2% of advisers believe link exists between administrative funding and news selection; and advisers at two-year colleges and private institutions are…

Suggestions are offered to teachers for obtaining minigrants from community resources other than the school in order to acquire assistive technology devices for students with disabilities. The approach involves the steps of obtaining information about potential donors, making contacts, and specifying benefits to the community and to the donor…

Critiques the criticism leveled at Milwaukee's (Wisconsin) four-year-old Parental Choice Program, a program designed to open private school choice through a voucher program. It discusses John Witte's reports which criticize the program and how these reports are flawed and inaccurate depictions of the program's progress and impact. (GLR)

A credit-rating tool for colleges seeking bond financing is described, using The Colorado College experience as a case study. The process discussed gives college chief financial officers a better understanding of how the bond rating agencies evaluate institutions' credit-worthiness. Substantial data charts and graphs are use for illustration. (MSE)

Measures of emotional adjustment and perceived emotional and instrumental support by grandparents were completed by 62 parents of young children with disabilities. A significant positive correlation between paternal adjustment and grandparent support was found. Grandparents' most frequent forms of assistance were babysitting and buying clothing.…