States that the indifference of public policy to human rights issues is illustrated by severe budget cuts in essential program areas such as the National Institute for Mental Health, the Legal Services Corporation, school lunches, social security, and education for the handicapped. Considers strategies for minimizing destructive effects of current…

Traces the development and implementation of environmental education in Australia during the 1970s, focusing on the role of the Curriculum Development Center, the Australian Environmental Education Program proposal, a 1974 national survey, the Environmental Education Project, and future implications. (DC)

Presents an overview of the university fleet, its purpose, relationship to the rest of the United States oceanographic research fleet, history, cost factors, and other information. (DC)

Criticizes the Holtzman Report (Boruch and Cordray) focusing on the politics behind the national educational policymaking process. (GC)

Reviews (1) market forces that have contributed to the current shortage of moderately priced housing; (2) the impact of the Indochinese refugee flows on existing housing; and (3) household demographic characteristics related to the issue of housing the refugees. Suggests ways that existing housing programs could help to accommodate the…

The major issue of educational quality is linked to the potential of national and state assessment programs. It is suggested that changes in assessment design, analysis, and reporting can significantly contribute to improvement in the policy development process. The California Assessment Program illustrates how state assessment information may be…

Presents excerpts from Donald McCurdy's testimony to the Committee on Science and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives. Includes discussions involving budget cuts in science education funding and the potential consequences of same; suggests best expenditures of science education research funding. (DS)

The Director of Institutional Research and Systems Planning at Broward Community College (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) describes examples of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) projects. Also noted are some negative aspects of the CETA process (e.g., reporting requirements, hiring elegibility regulations, etc.) and tips on seeking…

The tailoring of grants-in-aid to wage levels in the localities which receive them enjoys growing popularity among federal policymakers; two ongoing programs illustrate the flexibility of this technique. The article describes the procedures currently used to index the CETA and Medicare programs and their data source, the ES-202 system. (CT)

Describes two new vocational education programs: the Private Sector Initiative Program and the program (still in proposal stage) which was created by the Youth Act of 1980. Also explains how the National Alliance of Business has provided support for these programs and for the creation of the local Private Industry Councils. (CT)

Washington-based national organizations are seen as effective in dealing with the government, especially on technical questions. But when major policy issues are to be decided, it is suggested that a college president or board member is more effective. Knowing the committee structure is seen as necessary for influencing legislation. (Author/MLW)

Reviews the process employed in evaluating the national 4-H program. Holds that the evaluation design was influenced by political, rather than methodological, concerns. Takes examples from the 4-H evaluation to illustrate dilemmas that have emerged in current evaluation process and theory. (Author/GC)

Many problems are encountered when evaluating a complex, decentralized national program such as 4-H. Good effects of the federal evaluation mandate include local concern with program quality. Bad effects include that local agencies are forced to utilize noxious methodologies or to collect information they consider to be unimportant. (Author/GC)

Describes the analytical evaluation model used to determine outcomes of a Youth Career Development program. Reports that the program produced favorable changes in a number of areas. (Author/ST)

Describes the evaluation design employed by the 4-H program in response to the Congressional evaluation mandate of 1977. Discusses difficulties encountered in design integrity and practicality in choosing an appropriate format for the national-scale evaluation. (CS)