For several years, small primary schools in England and Wales have been threatened with closure because of feasibility and educational quality concerns. This article argues that school effectiveness depends not on size or age distribution, but on teaching methods, curriculum and staff organization, resource availability, collegial interaction, and…

State case studies of resource management for higher education are examined to develop a framework for use at all levels in analyzing current state finance policy. A resource management approach that can be used in several ways in the review and planning process is outlined. (MSE)

After completing an audit of Chapter 1 allocations in five states, the U.S. Department of Education's inspector general suggested that authorizing legislation be amended to substitute some measure of membership for average daily attendance. States are also having trouble reporting current expenditures in conformance with the originally prescribed…

A study of decentralization in Canadian school districts, particularly Edmonton (Alberta) and Langley (British Columbia), found organizational (not political) decentralization, and focused on the location of (1) authority and responsibility and (2) scope of school-based decision making. School-based management was characterized by two key…

A survey of 52 public research universities revealed great variety in the depth of faculty involvement in budgeting and in structures through which faculty participate. Faculty do not, in general, have major roles in resource allocation decisions. The concept of shared authority should be reconsidered in light of current reality. (MSE)

Funding trends in Australian higher education are examined over a 12-year period, with analyses for the system as a whole and for 2 sectors: the old, established universities and the newer, emerging institutions. The effects of funding shifts on program emphases and student populations (undergraduate vs. graduate) are discussed. (MSE)

Describes how substantial new monetary resources were made available to Chicago public schools after the Chicago School Reform Act and how they were used to stimulate change at the school level. The article briefly examines the allocation method for state chapter funds and discusses the findings from an analysis of 14 sample schools. (GLR)

Reports on Bill and Melinda Gates's tour of Alabama, the first state to be wired to the Internet by the nonprofit Gates Library Foundation, and the model for connecting 1000 more libraries this year. Mutual appreciation between Alabama librarians and the Gateses resulted. An interview with Bill Gates focuses on challenges libraries face in…

Allocating adequate materials funds from the university operation budget is essential if libraries in China's key universities are to successfully support their learning and research communities. This article examines funding problems, and suggests proposals for change: establish a deducting-percentage system; enhance integrated resources…

Summarizes a national study to determine whether U.S. school children, particularly those in disadvantaged metropolitan districts, experienced negative repercussions from the decentralization of federal resources, a structural-adjustment type of policy. Results showed that federal disinvestment in education adversely affected children in the…

Examines the presumed cost/educational-quality relationship by studying expenditure patterns of high-, middle-, and low-expenditure districts in Pennsylvania over a 10-year period. Students in high-spending districts had sizeable advantages (smaller classes and administrative support) over those in the other spending groups. (18 references) (MLH)

Offers advice to administrators and faculty in small colleges on planning, building, and managing campus computer networks. Also included are observations about the network as a strategic asset, funding and staffing issues, and planning for unexpected results. (Author/MSE)

Describes three major expenditure categories and school-level operating costs in eight large Texas districts. Teacher salary costs are the primary determinate of resource differences among schools. An analysis of districts' fiscal and performance data shows that resources directed toward greatest student need are inadequate to overcome poverty…

Outlines basic organizational skills to aid early childhood service directors to maximize time and efficiency. Recommends recording priorities and auditing how time is spent; noting wasted time; and organizing desk, supplies, and resources. Includes eight steps for staying organized. (DLH)

Standards, designed to identify and measure the "value added of schooling," are instrumental, not an end in themselves. Every school district needs an academic audit, a systematic way to examine and analyze academic performance by relevant categories. Its purpose is to improve the allocation of district resources to increase academic…