Colleges should look at themselves to discover why enrollments are declining. (MM)

Examining the reading level of two series of high school physics texts widely used between 1954 and 1976, this study indicates that the reading level of these two texts did increase during the 1960s while at the same time there was a decline in overall reading ability as reflected by SAT scores. (JC)

When responses from 135 of 222 New York secondary agriculture teachers were compared with a 1983 study, a 10% decrease in supervised agricultural experience (SAE) was found. Barriers were low level of summer employment, limited release time, less funding for transportation, and scheduling problems. A comprehensive overhaul of the concept and…

Recruiting middle school students for vocational education must be a comprehensive process that includes developing student interest and securing the support and participation of administrators, counselors, teachers, and parents. (SK)

Schools and states are responding to declining enrollments and need for educational reform in vocational and technical teacher education. At least 10% of colleges and universities have closed their programs, and many teachers receive no formal preparation before beginning their careers. (JOW)

The relationship between organizational culture and effectiveness is a dominant, if problematical, theme in management theory. This article illustrates one aspect of this relationship by analyzing data from a London comprehensive school experiencing a substantial decline in enrollment and in the 11+ component of that enrollment. Ameliorative steps…

Examined enrollment declines at three single-gender institutions in Massachusetts, asking: What strategies did they use in responding to enrollment decline? What planning-related factors were instrumental in aiding recovery? Found that each employed different responses and planning processes; two reversed the decline. Faculty and administrator…

Analyzes the enrollment patterns in chemistry during the first part of this century. Shows that the early progress of women in the first two decades of this century was not sustained and that a decrease in women's participation in all fields of chemistry was seen in the next few decades. Suggests explanations for these findings. (JRH)

Examines research on organizational and industry decline and provides survival guidelines for organizations within declining industries. Demonstrates how an organization can use the guidelines by examining a single-sex boarding school facing such a dilemma. (EV)

The recent announcement that Randolph-Macon Woman's College will admit male students has triggered yet another round in the continuing debate over women's colleges. At Randolph-Macon itself, the news was met with the usual mix of public displays: As students and alumnae protested with signs reading "Coed is a four-letter word," administrators and…

Few decisions by a school district are more controversial than the decision to close a school. School staff, students and their families, and even the local community all bear a substantial burden once the decision is made to close a school. Teachers and other school staff must search for new employment, students are faced with a multitude of…

Describes ways to predict and plan for enrollment decline. (JF)

This paper describes the reduction in force (RIF) that took place in the Bridgeton Public Schools, New Jersey, as a result of its exclusion from the formation of a new regional school district. During the school year 1976-77, enrollment declined by 1,600 pupils, tuition diminished by $2,000,000, and staff had to be reduced by 89 employees. The RIF…

The ratio technique, requiring only simple arithmetic calculations, uses historical information as a basis for projecting school enrollment. In the author's survey of state education agencies, 84 percent of the respondents indicated that they used a ratio technique. This study reviews four different approaches to use of the ratio method in…