This chapter of "The Best of the Best of ERIC," Volume 2, contains 14 summaries of documents and journal articles on reduction in force, all of which are indexed in either "Resources in Education" or "Current Index to Journals in Education." The materials included deal with various aspects of this topic, such as the…

The author begins by examining the historical, social, political, and economic factors that have reversed the expansionary phase of educational organizations from the standpoint of their implications for leadership requirements. Three overlapping areas of concern are identified and appropriate leadership skills and strategies within those areas…

This case study of the effects of declining enrollment on the school district in one small Minnesota city is published in conjuction with a planning assistance manual. In its attempt to balance the budget, the district was forced to make many staff reductions, including cuts in administrative staff. In addition to the problems in force and…

The effects of declining enrollment on one small town school district in Minnesota are examined in this case study, published in conjunction with a planning manual on enrollment decline. This district, located in a predominantly agricultural, rural area, was forced to reduce its staff, close two elementary schools, and reorganize its educational…

Analysis of the joint submission of Scholastic Aptitude Test scores by 10,704 high school seniors shows that relatively few colleges compete with each other in local student markets. This suggests that state and institutional policies for adapting to demographically induced enrollment declines will be severely constrained by the competitive…

The consolidation of rural schools in the United States has been a controversial topic for policy-makers, school administrators, and rural communities since the 1800s. Issues in the consolidation movement have been concerns of efficiency, economics, student achievement, school size, and community identity. Throughout the history of schooling in…

This symposium on university programs consists of three presentations. "Institutional and Curricular Characteristics of Leading Graduate Human Resource Development (HRD) Programs in the United States" (K. Peter Kuchinke) reports a study on institutional arrangements, student enrollments, and core curriculum content and found a large…

The author puts forward a whole range of new approaches to coping with the teacher surplus and using vacant college classrooms that would benefit both colleges of education and school boards. (Editor)

Multilevel foreign language classes are viewed as a challenge that can be met by a careful consideration of wise materials and equipment selection, group dynamics, individualized instruction, and curricular reorganization. (JB)

The 1977-78 activities of the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine are reviewed including: legislation, state contracts, Bureau of Health Manpower, priorities survey, clinical competence, and application services. Critical issues for AACPM are competency, national health policy, applicant pool, residency programs, and faculty…

By the fall of l973 Bellarmine College's enrollments had declined 35 percent and the college saw its problems primarily as inadequacy in salesmanship. Now, Bellarmine is described as a market-oriented institution striving to assess the educational needs of its community without changing its commitment to the liberal arts. (Author/MLW)

Nearly 11 years ago trustees of Wilson College (Pennsylvania) voted to close the institution. A group of alumnae brought a lawsuit to keep the college open, and since then the college's programs have been transformed to meet the changing interests and ages of its students. A division of continuing studies was created. (MLW)

Discusses the response of Hope College (Michigan) language departments to shifts in language enrollments, particularly the rise in Spanish enrollments and declines in other languages. Strategies include using the smaller classes as an opportunity to enhance the teaching-learning environment and make those courses more attractive, placement…

Changes in affirmative action policies in some states create possibilities for "natural experiments" to observe the effect of public policy on racial and ethnic inequality in American society. This study measured the impact of Initiative 200, a ballot measure that eliminated affirmative action in Washington State, on the transition from…

One strategy for better preparing students for teaching in contemporary schools is to offer them programs which provide extended field experience. If well-planned and directed, these programs can generate many benefits by integrating the theory and practice of teaching. The University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), through various…