Florida has pumped an extra $88 million into its university system this year while other states are scrimping on higher education. The state's drive is to turn its university system into one of the most respected in the country.

Colleges, universities, and the government have been trying to find the appropriate balance between autonomy and accountability, restraint and regulations. It is suggested that decisions should be made at the appropriate level within an organization, and over-regulation costs more in diminished creativity than could be saved through tight…

While private institutions flourished in Massachusetts, it is suggested, there was little interest in developing state-supported institutions of higher education. The comprehensive overhaul of an uncoordinated network of 28 institutions on 30 campuses governed by six autonomous boards is described. (MLW)

The last decade in Florida has seen an increase in reform efforts and public scrutiny, but no evidence of across-the-board achievement gains. The state's capacity for forging coalitions and funding reforms is threatened by continuing political volatility, ideological and partisan cleavages, and increasing competition for tax dollars. (38…

This article focuses on the political and economic realities surrounding textbook publishing. A discussion of the publishing industry includes an examination of industry decision makers and the influence of profit. State textbook adoption policies are also explored. (IAH)

School of education deans (N=268) were surveyed about externally mandated changes to teacher education programs in the areas of admissions, exit criteria, curriculum, and state approval standards. Data is presented on the nature of reforms implemented or anticipated, impact on program autonomy, and whether changes represent good professional…

Discusses two broad areas of emerging legal issues relating to nonpublic educational issues: first, concerning the institution and government, either in the institution claiming entitlement to funds or services, or in claiming exceptions from state or federal regulatory requirements; second, the institution's relationship with its faculty and…

Traces history of educating marginalized youth in Brazil and examines recent government efforts addressing this goal. Describes and analyzes three models of educating Brazilian "street children" (grassroots, activist state, and partnership between the two) using case studies. Advocates collaborative partnership between state and…

The welfare reform bill adopted in the United States in 1996 limited the eligibility of immigrants for several government assistance programs, and early projections estimated that nearly half of the savings associated with the reforms would come from these immigrant restrictions. Several studies have found that subsequent program participation…

Comprehensive school-reform programs under way in many states have better chances of success if they are linked to supportive external organizations. This paper describes activities of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, an independent, privately funded organization--a collection of volunteer activists that uses citizen leadership to…

In the late 1980s and 1990s, states began working to decrease the level of regulation of public education, using a variety of approaches to regulatory flexibility. This paper examines the evolution of deregulation, from limited waiver programs to charter-school plans and new performance-based accountability systems that include broad-scale…

This document is an edited version of testimony presented to a special hearing on the role of arts education in education reform. A special committee of eight state legislators assembled to hear testimony from 12 organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Chief State School…

This document provides a summary of school-reform actions taken by each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico as of February 12, 1996. Reform refers to four broad categories--school choice, services that are contracted out to private entities, deregulation or decentralization (for example, charter schools), and accountability through strong academic…

This paper discusses the current role of the property tax as a revenue source for state and local governments. It is written for state and local policymakers and others interested in property taxes, including those who lack an indepth knowledge of tax systems. The purposes of the paper are to: (1) explain the current role of property taxes in…

In 1990 the Kentucky General Assembly passed one of the most comprehensive and innovative reform laws in the nation, the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Under this law, schools must meet state-defined goals to receive financial rewards. This paper presents findings of a 6-year, field-work study of education reform in four rural Kentucky…