Presents two viewpoints on how profit motive will affect education. One explains how businesses have advantages of scale and political autonomy that enable them to enhance school productivity, calling private management public education's best hope. The other cautions that little is known about how for-profit schools operate and affect education,…

Explains how private foundations operate, depending on their type (independent, company sponsored, community, or operating), purpose, size, assets, geographical limitations, staff, and procedures. Discusses the unique world of corporate giving and shows how school administrators can identify potential funders, establish relationships, develop and…

Identifies and rank orders emerging trends and critical issues affecting private fund-raising among community colleges. Development officers representing 42 North Carolina community colleges participated in the study. The greatest number of participants identified trends related to business and industry, the need for private funds, and increased…

A reading specialist provides tips for developing a student publishing center aimed at improving writing skills and involving students in all publishing operations. Steps include assembling a planning team, considering various models, gaining financial assistance, furnishing the center, gathering needed supplies, and launching the program. (MLH)

Presents an interview with the head of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Diane Frankel. Discusses the IMLS vision; library funding under IMLS versus the Department of Education; criteria for grant awards; effects of the Gates Library Foundation on federal funding; library/museum collaboration; and funds allocation to libraries…

This article discusses how outside contributions and interests can place self-advocates in danger, how personal issues of advisors may place self-advocates in danger, a way for advisors to resolve their personal issues, and strategies that advisors can employ to assist and support self-advocates if they are in dangerous situations. (CR)

Families with severely disabled children were studied to identify transport-related costs which are not fully covered by current statutory provisions, and to identify the characteristics of children who most often incur these costs. Inadequacy of statutory financial assistance was confirmed by analysis of grants from the Family Fund Trust.…

Describes how Nashville (Tennessee) mayor Phil Bredesen has enlisted sports fans to help champion a $100 million overhaul of the city's library system. Discusses Internet filtering and balancing printed materials and technology. Highlights politicians from Illinois, Washington, Georgia, Texas, Rhode Island, and California who have increased…

The first of two sections discusses two major factors compelling a rethinking of school finance: standards-based education and the shift from equity to adequacy in school-finance litigation. The second section summarizes five compilations of research findings related to these two factors. (PKP)

Describes how Iowa State University's mishandling of a bequest of farmland (the land was sold despite a directive that it be maintained by the university) cut to the heart of both its own credibility and the region's source of pride. (EV)

Examines whether the US Navy's Voluntary Education program leads to lower personnel turnover. Finds that program participation is associated with an 11-percentage-point increase in the probability of continuing in the Navy for 6 years. Findings seem to support the theory that general training safeguards employer investments in specific training by…

Presents key principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), discussing the rationale for its use; providing policy recommendations at the organizational, community, and national levels aimed at advancing the application of CBPR; and emphasizing the establishment of policies to enhance equity that would both increase the engagement of…

Details survey of over 100 child care centers about successful and unsuccessful fundraising projects. Highlights ten key factors contributing to success: defining the purpose for fundraising, setting a goal, knowing the audience, making it fun, building on strengths, looking for repeated fundraisers, being cost effective, publicizing aggressively,…

This special section on the history and creators of COTF VII describe the process for creating a conference on technology in education using the example of the Minnesota-based Classrooms of the Future Symposia presented by colleges and universities in the Twin Cities area. Highlights include the role of technology in instruction; promotional…

Compares state funding for school infrastructure needs between 1993-94 and 1998-99. Found 164 percent increase in state infrastructure funding. Examines state funding mechanisms such as flat grants, equalized grants, categorical grants, and full-state funding. Fourteen states provide no state infrastructure funding; most rely instead on…