This paper presented preliminary findings of a 4-year study to test alternatives to the annual application and daily meal-counting procedures in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). It presents preliminary findings for school years 1990-91 and 1991-92. Data were collected from 12 pilot-site schools and school-food authorities (SFAs) to…

Although computerized adaptive tests acquire their efficiency by successively selecting items that provide optimal measurement at each examinee's estimated level of ability, operational testing programs will typically consider additional factors in item selection. In practice, items are generally selected with regard to at least three, often…

This report describes progress in addressing problems identified earlier in the process of consolidating student loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP) or the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Consolidation loans allow borrowers to extend their repayment periods and may combine loans under either or both…

This report provides results of a review of the methodology used by the Office of Human Development Services (HDS) to measure Head Start performance and to control high risk Head Start agencies. The review was performed at HDS headquarters and regional locations nationwide. The review was based on a sample of 200 Head Start agencies and focused on…

Discusses the relationship between school size and per-pupil educational costs and describes a number of possibilities for using state aid formulas to encourage school districts to operate schools of optimal size. Three possible approaches are discussed, including penalty factors, incentive payments, and a combination of penalties and incentives.…

This memo proposes a 5 percent increase in productivity in the Dallas Community College District and invites all district personnel to participate by thinking of ways of achieving this goal without lowering standards of educational quality and without reducing salaries and wages. (DC)

The Rural Initiative Program funds projects addressing specific rural education problems. Sample projects, chosen both by matching programs to selection criteria and by competition, include: staff development improvement, tele-teaching, expanded rural course offerings, and school-based entrepreneurship. This paper discusses cost analysis…

Aimed at both practicing administrators and university education professors, this book discriminates among certain "E-words" ("effective,""efficient,""excellent," and "empowerment") in the educational reform lexicon. According to the introductory chapter, levels of effectiveness, efficiency, and…

The number of large-scale farms (farms with annual sales of $500,000 or more) increased from 11,400 in 1974 to 27,800 in 1982. Although only 1.2 percent of all U.S. farms, these farms controlled more than 10 percent of the land in farms in 1982 and accounted for nearly 33 percent of the total value of farm production. This report, using…

Streamlining involves the modification of cost-analysis methods to make them more appropriate for the limited time and resources, and immediate information needs, of local-level program evaluations. It can also enhance the reliability and validity of district-level studies. A review of existing texts of cost analysis and of studies of traditional…

A centralized marketing and promotion office may or may not be a panacea for a continuing education program. Five major advantages to centralization of the marketing and promotion function are minimization of costs, a school-wide marketing strategy, maximization of the school image, enhanced quality control, and building of technical expertise of…

This report provides the step-by-step instructions required for using the Navy's Basic Organizing/Optimizing Training Scheduler (BOOTS) system. BOOTS is a computerized tool designed to aid in the creation of master training schedules for each Navy recruit training command. The system is defined in terms of three major functions: (1) data file…

Sometimes districts can improve their maintenance and security and find more efficient and less costly approaches to both areas when they tap their own personnel resources. Illustrations show how effectively problems have been dealt with by people of talent and ability "within the system." (Author/MLF)

Tips on working with an architect to cut school construction costs. (Author)