This publication outlines some of the techniques school districts are using to survive in an era of fiscal restraint. Information in this resource directory is based on a national survey of 108 school districts affiliated with the National School Board Association. Section 1 summarizes the survey findings, which indicate that school districts have…

This study presents a new approach to identifying economically efficient school districts in Illinois and provides a preliminary analysis of the determinants of public schools' economic efficiency. Economically efficient schools are those attaining higher than expected test scores at lower than expected costs. Expectation is based on school…

This paper discusses the problems of conducting research on a low-base rate sensitive family problem, parental child snatching, and proposes that telephone interviewing is a cost efficient and methodologically appropriate solution to these problems. The paper reviews the scant literature on parental child snatching by presenting what are…

This paper presents a promising new item bias detection technique that derives practical appeal from its simplicity and economy, and provides data relating to the method's consistency across samples. The proposed regression on item characteristics (RIC) method is a straightforward and inexpensive approach to the study of item bias, based on…

In academic, scientific and professional communities, individuals request reprints of published articles from the authors of those articles. To investigate the effect of the method of communication, letter or postcard, with or without a personal handwritten note, on request compliance rate and response latency, two separate studies, in 1979 and in…

Discussion of political science games and their use at the college level is intended to present a case for the feasibility and desirability to expand the role of simulation in Soviet studies. (Author/ND)

This article describes two formulae designed to measure the effect of job preparedness programs at six North Carolina community colleges. Increased taxes due to increased earnings "pay back" the program costs in less than two years. And trainees, through increased wages, "earn back" training costs in approximately five months. (NHM)

Regulations recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency will require sources within certain specified source categories to install, operate and maintain continuous emission monitoring systems. Major comments received on these proposed regulations are discussed. (BT)

The author raises questions concerning the cost-effectiveness of the use of computers in education, the use of computers in individualizing instruction, and the value of such techniques as computer simulation of experiments. (SD)

Analysis provided by John Gardner, Director of Buildings and Grounds for Columbia University. (MLF)

The installation of an area lighting tower combines increased security with economic savings at Kansas State University. (Author)

Renovation to obtain maximum benefits from existing structures can be as simple as relighting. (Author/EA)

An attempt to integrate the career counseling outcome literature (Spokane & Oliver, 1983) indicated that career counseling was definitely beneficial overall. Subsequent updating and additional analyses of the literature confirmed the usefulness of career counseling and led to further findings. Intensity of treatment ("time on task") was found to…

While the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines have many proponents, critics find testing according to the guidelines costly and time-consuming. Winthrop College (South Carolina) has developed an approach to testing foreign language majors that tests all skill areas, can be administered using no…