This report addresses college affordability in Illinois from the student's perspective and makes specific recommendations to improve affordability at public institutions of higher education. The report also seeks to make students and their families more aware of the close connection between academic preparation, progress, and college costs. It…

Confronted by overcrowded schools and tight budgets, school districts in about 30 states are keeping schools open year round. This is not extending the school year; year-round students attend the same number of days as those on the traditional calendar, but the year-round students have several short breaks. More students can fit into existing…

The basic formula used by the Chapter 1 Migrant Education Program to allocate funds to state agencies includes an adjustment to help defray the cost of summer services for migrant children, which can be particularly expensive. In recent years, policymakers have questioned whether the current funding formula unfairly rewards states with modest…

Audiographics is the merging of microcomputer graphics, telephone communications systems, and teaching strategies into a cost effective method of delivering distance education classes. The teacher creates visual images that are sent to and stored on computers at the remote sites. At the appropriate time the teacher and the remote site assistants…

The United States ranks first in the world among major industrialized nations in school costs and ranks nearly last in student achievement. Three massive changes in state educational policies during the last half century may account for this low educational productivity. From 1940 to 1990: (1) the number of U.S. school districts decreased 87…

A group of 2,594 employers identified as having hired a new employee prior to 1981 served as the population for a study of the provision and outcomes of on-the-job training of new employees. Respondents were asked how much time the new employees had spent on four types of training activities during their first 3 months of employment. A simple…

The response rates of university graduates and the cost per return were studied for a 20-item questionnaire presented in 3 formats as follows: (1) a 2-page questionnaire with an accompanying self-addressed stamped envelope; (2) a condensed format with smaller type, on 1 page, with a self-addressed stamped envelope; and (3) the single-page…

This brief fact sheet addresses the following concerns about effective communication and accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): requirements under the ADA for achieving effective communication (e.g., provision of necessary auxiliary communication aids and services); identification of necessary communication aids and…

This guide helps advance professional development schools (PDSs) in assisting the simultaneous renewal of teacher education and schools, offering concrete suggestions regarding the financing and policies needed for PDSs. The publication offers information to help people make informed decisions concerning the laws, regulations and finances of PDSs.…

This annual review source is designed to assist smaller libraries in the systematic selection of suitable reference materials for their collections. Approximately 500 unabridged reviews, written by over 250 practicing librarians and subject specialists, identify and describe the most useful and affordable reference sources available for small and…

Even Start programs integrate early childhood education, adult literacy or basic education, parenting education and support, and parent and child time together to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. This report describes the Even Start program in Colorado, including evaluation questions and methods. The report also presents evaluation…

This digest explores the possibilities of cost reduction in extending the coverage and upgrading the quality of preschool education especially in developing countries. The digest also seeks to highlight the importance of community participation in developing and managing preschool institutions and programs. Chapters cover the following topics: the…

This paper describes uses of technology in a rural school in Mississippi and presents the results of a study on calculator use in mathematics instruction. Computers are used in this district for scheduling, record keeping, and instruction, such as the Writing to Read Program. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recommends the…

This monograph identifies appropriate quantitative indicators of educational effectiveness and efficiency, and discusses how such indicators should be used to assess education at multiple levels of the system. It focuses on the practical aspects of introducing effectiveness and efficiency concepts/measures into the deliberations of educational…

In the 1992-93 school year, in response to a request from the Board of Trustees of the Austin Independent School District (Texas) (AISD), the district's Office of Research and Evaluation conducted a retrospective examination of the 1991-92 AISD programs to determine cost-effectiveness when possible. This report describes the review process.…