Argues that the economic absorption capacity of developing nations should not be a deterrent to donors of educational aid. They should understand that they are donating to "soft" development rather than to "hard" production. (ND)

Disputes claims that private education is highly selective and unaffordable. Examines extent of private expenditure on education in Bolivia, a very poor country whose public education system is characterized by low teacher salaries, unqualified teachers, few textbooks, and high dropout and repetition rates. Using 1990 and 1992 household survey…

An independent study of Baltimore City's Tesseract schools analyzes why the privately managed program failed. Results showed no gains on Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills scores. Baltimore was paying about 11% more per student than in comparison schools. EAI has succeeded in establishing the supremacy of Wednesday afternoons for staff development…

According to two recent state surveys, much existing state legislation pays only lip service to the importance of parent participation. Staffing and funding levels are inadequate. Despite decades of federal legislation and support for parental involvement, most states have not passed enabling legislation or developed policies and written…

Techniques used by private colleges to survive fiscal crises are reported. Included are: common factors contributing to financial problems, the means perceived by presidents to be most useful in crisis planning, and the implications of the findings for overall higher education planning and management. (MSE)

A survey of 84 city clerks in Iowa cities of 2,500 to 10,000 found that revenue scarcity was a general problem but much more severe in rural areas and that public services had not deteriorated, possibly because surpluses were acting as a short term buffer. (SV)

Crucial aspects of university finances in India are reviewed, including the pattern of flow of resources into the university system and the pattern of allocation of resources by the university between its different functions and faculties. (Author/MLW)

Warnings about the deterioration of America's schoolhouses have generated only limited public reaction. State legislators, governors, federal officials, and corporate executives who reacted to "A Nation at Risk" have remained silent--perhaps because lots of money is needed to fix the problem. This article explains the effects of physical…

Responses from 187 adult students at Ruskin, a British residential college, found over two-thirds in debt from returning to education, 38% had debts prior to enrollment, 40% work as well as study, over 60% reported financial concerns adversely affect their studies, and many are being affected by government changes in welfare benefits and student…

Fund accounting, currently used by many colleges and universities to report their economic performance, may obscure rather than clarify the facts for institutional constituencies. Global accounts are more thorough and descriptive of the institution's financial status, and can be used in conjunction with traditional accounting. (MSE)

Dade County (Florida) Public School Superintendent Octavio Visiedo demonstrated his four-star leadership capabilities in the wake of Hurricane Andrew's devastation. For weeks, Visiedo tirelessly directed military personnel and school workers in massive clean-up and repair efforts. When all but 10 of the district's 287 schools opened in…

Managing college or university budget reduction involves more than careful matching of available dollars and essential and high priority programs. It is necessary to (1) have in place appropriate individual/personal policies and institutional policies and data; (2) take steps to decide on budget cuts; and (3) act to implement them. (MSE)

Educational funding in many states is declining in amount and political priority. The AASA recommends that school districts use curriculum-driven or performance budgeting to alleviate the crunch. Budgets should garner public support and reflect school district program effectiveness, comparative benefit, and collaborative planning, rather than…

The current recession in the United States imperils teachers' jobs and school reform. States are prioritizing increased spending in such areas as health care and transportation rather than educational improvement. The article discusses specific educational hard times in several states and counties. (SM)

Governors and legislators are looking for ways to help offset budget deficits, and the public pension funds that cover working and retired school employees are tempting targets. Discusses problems in a number of states, pros and cons of federal regulation, calculating retirement benefits, and how pension funds are controlled. (MLF)