Asserts that, in an economic environment that threatens music programs, elementary music educators must reexamine their role in schools and work toward creating a program that is considered too necessary to cut. Discusses the history of music education and suggests approaches for keeping the program alive. (CFR)

Analysis of comparative case studies in four high- and low-wealth school districts in Kentucky indicates that, following recent school finance reform initiatives, expenditures increased in all districts but that spending patterns changed only incrementally. Nonprogramatic financial reporting masks the extent to which reform dollars are supporting…

Examines the public school partnership between Boston University and Chelsea (Massachusetts) designed to improve the educational quality of its schools. Partnership goals and implementation plans are described, and the partnership's plans for helping to prepare the children to learn and teachers to teach are addressed. Financial, administrative,…

Major changes in British higher education in the last five years are analyzed, including increasing student numbers, mandated government assessment, linking funding to assessment, modularized curriculum, and the competency movement. Comparisons are drawn with the United States, and the impact of the policy changes on one institution, the…

Describes a study examining the impact of the Tech Prep Education Act on the initial implementation of federally supported Tech Prep Initiatives. Based on telephone survey responses from all 50 state Tech Prep leaders, reviews findings concerning the funding of Tech Prep consortia, state and local administrative structures, policies and goals, and…

Reviews common financing strategies for school-linked services, and suggests that the fiscal strategy for building integrated school-linked services involves supplementing new core program funding with redirected existing sources and increasing use of Medicaid funds. There is no single approach to financing these services. (SLD)

Describes a study of secondary school library media specialists in Maine and Pennsylvania that was conducted to establish a baseline of data relating to the use of CD-ROM databases for reference purposes. Topics addressed include database titles; networking; staffing concerns; budget; funding; attitudes toward CD-ROMs; and training and curriculum…

Examines the social factors that contribute to the tensions surrounding the debate over bilingual education. Discusses the "English-only" movement, the "English-Plus" coalition, and shrinking funds for bilingual education at a time of rising acceptance of its benefits in the educational community. (JB)

Describes the Ohio State University Libraries' Gateway to Information project, which was developed to help users find, evaluate, and select materials in any format; access online catalogs and CD-ROM databases; and apply information seeking and critical thinking skills independently. Funding support is discussed and Gateway's impact on the future…

A review of the literature on school effectiveness identifies elements at the system level and the building level that contribute to effectiveness. The literature also provides diagnostic tools for evaluating one of the most important components of school effectiveness, school culture and climate. (SLD)

Presents the statement of the state Commissioner of Education before the New Jersey Senate Education Committee in defense of increased funding to urban school districts provided by the Quality Education Act. Argues that state legislators have a moral obligation and legal duty to see poor school districts properly funded. (SLD)

Critiques industrial, economic, and educational policies and trends of the United States in light of their impact on the access of African Americans and other minorities to the benefits of economic and social success. Covers low-wage industrial policy, high immigration, free-trade agreements, and emphasis on graduate education. (JB)

Presents results of a study exploring how demographic trends are affecting political support for public education. Explains that the study expected and found that parents would support increases in public school taxes more than nonparents. Suggests that political ideology was a stronger indicator of support for public education than was…

The nine articles of this special section focus on the role of evaluation in the reform of the mental health system in Washington. The reform process is described from its inception through its design to the dissemination and utilization of evaluation results. The final article considers implications for statewide evaluations. (SLD)

This witness appeared for the state of Missouri, which wished to discontinue funding the St. Louis public schools' desegregation efforts, in the areas of school desegregation plans and techniques, surveys and survey methodology, race relations and attitudes, allocation of resources, statistical analysis, and the relationship between school…