Discusses the issues addressed in following articles of this issue of the journal, focusing on policy community, which educational research had too often ignored when making educational decisions. Insights from educational research are used to suggest what policy processes and reform initiatives should do rather than simple criticizing what policy…

Presents the results of a survey of the admissions offices at the 25 highest-ranked national universities and the 25 highest-ranked liberal arts colleges concerning the number of African American applicants, their acceptance rates, enrollment numbers, and yield rates. (EMS)

Technology is necessary but not sufficient for successful distance education. Argues that the two most important ingredients in technological solutions to education are maintaining a steady policy and providing sufficient funds for "systemic" solutions. (PEN)

A survey of coordinators of tutoring in English for speakers of other languages in New Zealand revealed some advantages to the switch to direct government funding (improved standards, accountability). Disadvantages included the possibility of changing the culture to suit funding requirements and endangering the focus on learner needs. (SK)

Assesses the potency of drug prevention and education programs and discusses whether federal spending on these activities has played a role in reducing adolescent drug use over the past decade. It concludes that neither drug-education activities or federal spending has influenced the decline in adolescent drug use from the early 1980s to early…

Since the 1988 Education Reform Act, Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology (Gloscat) in England has lost the bulk of its higher education provision and become a smaller, poorer, and largely vocational provider. This paper presents a case study of Gloscat's response to local changes and the need for competence-based curriculum. Reviews the…

A survey of Australian scientists revealed that they felt media coverage of their research had significant benefits, but they received little support from their organizations. Examines factors that encourage or discourage scientists to communicate their work through the media. Discusses implications for managers of publicly funded institutions.…

Describes a program called Faith, Finances, and You, which aims to help parishioners of St. Albert the Great in Ohio become better stewards in their personal and financial lives. Program involves a series of workshops that were adjusted according to participant feedback. The parish plans to expand the program to schools. (NB)

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…

Educators are often caught up in the problem of political agendas or funding driving educational research. Projects and proposals congruent with current trends or some agency's priority are often those that are funded. Institutional recognition in the form of promotion and salary increments is frequently focused on funded research. What, then, is…

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…

Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) is challenging the rights of a biotechnology company to infringe on the university's patents on an invention; the company is challenging the patents' validity. The case is seen as representative of issues concerning technology transfer in which universities, government funding, and private industry interact. The…

Argues that funding for education has increased in California since 1989 and that the reason for continued large class sizes is increased enrollment. Compounding the problem is the fact that 7 out of 10 new students had limited English proficiency. (DDR)

Reviews the origins of Florida's community college system and traces trends from 1983 to 1996. Addresses such topics as enrollment; financial support from taxes, the state lottery, and student fees; college-level skills testing; technical education; and performance-based incentive funding and budgeting. Discusses forces that will shape the…

Discusses the development of Georgia's 15 two-year colleges and 32 technical institutes and describes a 1994 formal agreement to resolve differences between the systems and increase collaboration. Highlights factors, such as the use of lottery funds for scholarships, that will increase the state's traditionally low participation rates in…