South Dakota State leaders decided a few years ago to make a commitment to educational technology and distance education. The result is a blend of public and private support for educational change focused on increased use of instructional technology and distance education. The May/June 2001 issue of "Tech Trends" presents ideas from…

Discusses school governance systems and describes governance overhauls in two large urban school districts, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, focusing on role of mayor in improving troubled public education systems. Identifies benefits and shortcomings of approach, concluding mayoral control can make a difference but right combination of…

Compared faculty and administrator responses at Ohio State University and Youngstown State University versus the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Tennessee Technological University to their states' policies to improve undergraduate instruction. Found that responses to Ohio's faculty workload mandate versus Tennessee's performance funding…

Discusses how libraries can apply for funding for youth services in libraries. Describes the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding. Presents examples from four states of recently funding LSTA youth projects. Appendices list funding resources on the Web and print resources on funding. (AEF)

This paper presents the stories of three mothers with learning difficulties whose children have been involved in care proceedings. Drawing on the example of the legendary interviewer, Studs Terkel, the authors let the mothers describe their experiences of the child protection system in their own words. From out of their intensely personal accounts…

After a decade or so spent largely on setting academic standards against which to hold schools accountable, states are themselves being held accountable for helping schools figure out how to meet them. The result is a huge leadership challenge. With few or no added resources, state education agencies are retooling to provide more technical support…

This document presents aggregate and individual data on the states' general fund receipts, expenditures, and balances. Findings, focusing on the period from fiscal 1993 to fiscal 1995, are based on a survey completed by Governors' state budget officers throughout the 50 United States and Puerto Rico. Six chapters, following the preface and…

The West Virginia education reform legislation of 1988 and 1990 mandated greater involvement of school personnel, parents, and community in site-based decision making. This paper examines the operations and activities of faculty senates, which are composed of all full-time educators in each school, for the years 1990-91, 1991-92, and 1992-93. A…

Little research has investigated the effects of school restructuring on the roles of central office administrators, particularly the superintendent. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the perceptions of superintendents in Kentucky, whose State Legislature passed a statewide systemic reform initiative, the Kentucky Education…

This paper examines the significance of facilities preservation for educational facilities planning and identifies various forms of facilities preservation applicable to educational facilities. It analyzes why educational facilities planners need to be aware of preservation considerations, reviews the relevant literature for preservation…

By the late 1980s, fiscal crises, tax revolt measures, education reform, and other factors had prompted 28 states to institute state lotteries as a supplemental means of public finance. This paper presents findings of a study that examined whether or not lotteries enhance public education spending. Data for 1987 from all 50 states were compared…

The development and implementation of Kentucky's Program for Educationally Deficient School Districts is examined in this case study. Implemented in 1987, the program required districts to meet certain performance, planning, and reporting criteria. Districts failing to comply could be placed in categories of noncompliance. Data were derived from…

In 1984, the Council of State Governments undertook a study to assess states' intentions regarding implementation of the Commission on Excellence in Education's 1983 report "A Nation at Risk." The study described in this report follows up on the findings of the Council's 1984 study, identifying the areas where states have made progress…

South Carolina's successful comprehensive school plan to develop and maintain public support for its school reform package, the Education Improvement Act, is offered in this paper, which focuses on the necessity of public support for successful reform. Key components of the plan are described, which include timing and public interest, state…

This second annual report identifies the specific progress made by South Dakota during 1991-92 toward achievement of the six National Education Goals. The state's objectives to achieve each of the six goals are outlined, as well as actions taken and proposals made. "Families First," a state initiative that focuses on strengthening the…