Between 1980 and 1982, Cuyahoga Community College (CCC) undertook a project designed to develop and implement cost-effective practices that would improve student success rates and student retention between quarters by 5%. Numerous activities were involved, including the development of a student advising system; the review and revision of course…

Many young mothers who are the sole support of young children work at low-level, low-paying jobs primarily to have the satisfaction of providing for the growth of their children. A job that directly provides child care is exactly what many working mothers are looking for. Employers should realize that provision of child care as a fringe benefit is…

The characteristics of individualized services offered by the Northwest Staff Development Center in Livonia (Michigan) to teachers in seven school districts were studied and a user profile was sought as a measure of program effectiveness. Services were requested directly by individual teachers and administrators to meet specific needs. Requests…

Two papers comprising Block II of a course in economics and education policy are presented along with a conclusion to Block I and II of the series published by the Open University. The first paper, "Education as a Social Investment," by Vera Morris, focuses on such areas as the identification of costs and benefits, the return on the social…

A traffic safety program consisting of a workshop for parents and the use of special storybooks with their children was effective in reducing 13 preschool children's entries into the street to a rate approximately 10% of that previously observed. The program also increased parents' use of praise and reward for safe play and children's correct…

This study examined positive and normative policy issues in the use of educational benefits as military service enlistment incentives. A test of the attractiveness of enhancements to the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) has been underway since January 1979. The enhancements, called VEAP "kickers," are limited to high…

A study examined the dynamics of cooperation between public school adult education programs and business and industry. On-site interviews of nine public school adult education (PSAE) directors and ten representatives from the training and development sector of business and industry were conducted, and a survey and two followup surveys were…

This report of the Council on Quality Education to the 1981 Minnesota Legislature containing data current through fiscal 1980, discusses policy issues related to early childhood and family education within the state. The report's eight chapters describe the following: (1) nine revised policy recommendations; (2) the conceptualization and…

Rates of return to state investments for two of Maine's post-secondary vocational technical institutes are presented. Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute showed a rate of return to the state economy of 12 percent; Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, 2 percent. The usefulness of rate of return analysis as a planning tool or as…

The Teaching Information Processing System (TIPS), a computer-augmented instructional aid, provides individualized instruction for large numbers of students. The TIPS procedure involves the following: (1) instructor preparation of a detailed course outline; (2) delineation of course concept areas and objectives; (3) creation and weekly…

Cost accounting in California community colleges is considered in this study in terms of the mission of the colleges, the impact of the open enrollment policy, the economic benefits attributable to the colleges, and comparisons made with other segments of public higher education. The study revealed that statewide community college operating…

This paper suggests that school systems can develop and implement a plan to keep schools operating to the advantage of students, staff, and community despite declining enrollment. In arguing against the closing of schools, this paper provides quotes from a survey and summary statements from school officials to show that closings do not save school…

A historical antagonism between the advocates of quantitative evaluation methods and the proponents of qualitative evaluation methods has stymied the recognition of the value to be gained by utilizing both methodologies in the same study. The integration of quantitative and qualitative methods within a single evaluation has synergistic effects in…

The State of Alaska Department of Education, through management consultants, conducted a study in eight selected school districts to ascertain the following: (1) effectiveness of vocational education programs offered at the secondary level, (2) adequacy of special education services provided to exceptional children at all levels, and (3)…

Using the basic principles of generalizability theory, a psychometric model for domain-referenced interpretations is proposed, discussed, and illustrated. This approach, assuming an analysis of variance or linear model, is applicable to numerous data collection designs, including the traditional persons-crossed-with-items design, which is treated…