"Psychology's progress during the last quarter century is reviewed and its potential for significant scientific advances in the future assessed. Some reasons underlying the public's current mistrust are considered; one of these is the tendency for some psychologists to become advocates for particular public policies and/or to misrepresent the…

Examines the significance of leadership in policy-making, using the metaphorical framework of the body, its inherent dependence on the heart for life, and its requirement of a soul for virtuous direction. Ethical leadership, the heart and soul of policy-making, is desirable in all arenas. Striving for an ethical leadership ideal in a shared…

Accumulating empirical evidence documents the significant contribution of biological variables to the determination of social behaviors. More appropriate biosocial models may need to allow for causal relationships between biological and social determinants and for effects that are interactive, nonlinear, and discontinuous. Demographic surveys…

Although individual components of reform initiatives may appear promising, little thought is given to possible inconsistencies resulting from implementing multiple reform components simultaneously. This article describes some unintended consequences arising from inconsistencies between and within components of Kentucky's systemic education reform.…

A discussion of the need for institutional research to address student financial aid issues in higher education outlines, first, a research agenda for use within institutions, and then presents a research agenda for emerging policy issues and the role that institutional research might play in positioning institutions to participate in national…

It is argued that behavior genetics should be part of social policy deliberations because behavior genetics studies can reveal which traits are more influenced by shared environments and thus are most malleable through environmental change. This is of particular interest in the case of IQ. (SLD)

Describes interviews conducted with administrators in Texas community colleges to determine how and why retrenchment policies are developed and their effects on the college. Suggests that policies are developed by committees of faculty and administrators to protect faculty and the college in times of financial crisis. (15 citations) (AJL)

Illustrates the use of concepts from the arts as metaphors to enhance educational policymaking, focusing on Alexander Pope's poetry, the development of planning models, and the interpretation of Quebec's Museum of Civilization as a metaphor and model for policymaking. Highlights the need for originality and creativity. (29 citations) (MAB)

Examines pitfalls in analyzing school-level data, particularly expenditure data. Examples come from Ohio's experience with creating usable data structures for examining school-level information, aided by a statewide, complex, multipurpose Education Management Information System (EMIS). Since districts can choose different reporting software…

Discusses the problems associated with schools allowing access to the Internet and describes the technologies currently available to address filtering issues. Presents a proposed solution for the Greek School Network, including the creation of acceptable use policies and selecting appropriate software. (Author/LRW)

Studied policy maker attitudes toward education and education reform in general, focusing on educational vouchers. Survey responses from 89 state legislators from 6 states show that policy makers generally accept the market arguments used by voucher supporters but are sympathetic to equity concerns and funding issues raised by voucher opponents.…

Provides examples of how federal agencies have responded to the possibility that terrorists could use information on their Web sites to plan further attacks, following the September 11 attacks. Discusses implications of the removal and alteration of government information and offers suggestions for developing a government-wide Web site policy.…

Considers the language of professional development and demonstrates how principals with different professional beliefs and understandings interpret the language of education differently. The work is based on a two-year study of eight principals in a school undergoing a teacher-supervision policy change. Lacking a common understanding of education…

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Directors has decided not to re-examine a rule limiting the committees on which the Division I-A football conferences are entitled to hold a majority. Critics of the rule saw inequities in committee membership that would cause major teams to be governed by decisions of members…

Presents, as a general model for ecological reform in universities, a four-step process that has awakened The Pennsylvania State University to its ecological impact and is moving it toward sustainable resource-use policies. (EV)