Proposes a system to restore equity to public education while encouraging cultural pluralism. Advocates separating the decision-making responsibilities for finance, school design and operation, and school assignment of students. (Author/IRT)

Some states are using rewards and incentives to entice public colleges and universities to improve quality and meet long-term state goals. Performance funding generally represents a small portion of an institution's budget but appears to substantially affect institutional performance, lessen funding fluctuations, and promote funding stability.…

A new law lowered the 1992 earnings cap that made it difficult for college students to qualify for Pell Grants, the largest federal source of need-based student financial aid. The measure also raises the Pell Grant maximum award, increases the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget, and makes other changes in the law. Details of l998 budget…

Argues that, with technology costs and revenue opportunities changing rapidly, colleges' future financial strategies concerning technology will have to be more agile and adaptable than ever. Presents financial models from 20 independent colleges and universities, and discusses how they have been used to define a financial strategy for technology…

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the Universal Service program to provide financial support for communications services for all K-12 schools/libraries. A Washington telecommunications attorney discusses eligible services and the application process, and offers tips…

Describes components critical to effective leadership. Focuses on organizational patterns, such as comparison groups and restructuring; staffing patterns, including admissions and diversity; and budgeting, such as sources of budgets, student affairs, alternative funding sources, and privatizing and outsourcing. Claims that the effective…

Provides a taxonomy of cost containment actions for use in response to budget crises where revenues fall short of expenditures. Indicates four levels of actions: tactical temporary and tactical permanent, which have low to moderate impact on school operations; and strategic temporary and strategic permanent, which have moderate to high impact. (13…

Quadrant analysis, a widely-used research technique, is suggested as useful in college or university strategic planning. The technique uses consumer preference data and produces information suitable for a wide variety of curriculum and marketing decisions. Basic quadrant analysis design is described, and advanced variations are discussed, with…

Successful college and university investments hinge on an asset allocation strategy capable of meeting the institution's needs for income and growth in principal at the lowest possible risk. Periodic adjustments must be made when there is a shift in the institution's risk tolerance, modification in need for income distribution, and changes in…

Four kinds of evidence demonstrating substantial social benefits resulting from public expenditures on higher education are discussed: (1) social rates of return; (2) nonmonetary benefits; (3) local economic activity; and (4) national economic growth. A recent study of the effect of investment in higher education on workforce productivity is…

Stresses the need for having financial and staff data available at the school level and relates Minnesota's state department of education's experience with school-level data collection. Schools need to develop unit record data collection and integrated, relational databases. School-level data can provide answers to major questions concerning…

Teachers need training and support to revise their instructional practices to address the Information Society's needs. Districts must commit substantial resources to help teachers gain necessary skills and understanding. Considerable expertise is needed to establish an appropriate technological infrastructure and use it effectively. Traditional…

Sweden's newly deregulated university system, characterized by increased privatization and performance-based funding, is compared with a model of "responsive regulation" characterized by a cooperative regulatory relationship. Developments and actions during the first few years of reform are also analyzed in this context. Suggestions for…

Campus planning is affected by changing facility needs, transportation issues, emergence of satellite campuses, piecemeal development and funding, and shrinking budgets. A tool for reshaping college image is the campus assessment, which evaluates the campus character, condition, and maintenance and helps bring them in line with institutional…

In an interview, the head of the Coca-Cola Foundation, Ingrid Saunders Jones, discusses the foundation's objectives for financial support of education and the role of targeted and ethnic marketing, programs at historically black colleges and universities, recent growth of the endowment, number of projects funded, and the role of the Coca-Cola…