Despite some weakening in the 1990s, partly due to sluggish trend growth, the Swiss innovation performance has been very strong. There are, however, areas in which policy reforms could strengthen innovation further and help Switzerland maintain its lead in the face of a changing global environment. Boosting competition, simplifying administrative…

This report on the Legislative Council begins by providing an indepth look at the policies of the Oregon educational environment and the changes beginning in the 1990s with legislation and policy changes that resulted in the ability to compare Oregon schools in ways that did not exist before. These commonalities created a framework in which the…

Although a number of Chicano colleges were founded during the 1970s, none of them survive today. This book provides an institutional case study of Colegio Cesar Chavez (Oregon), the first independent four-year Chicano college with accreditation candidacy. The study examines Colegio's founding, institutional mission and philosophy, campus…

A survey of four classes of third-year dental students identified six top stressors: examinations and grades, graduation requirements, inconsistency of professors' feedback, patient tardiness or no-show, atmosphere created by clinical faculty, and financial responsibilities. Also, 15 of 38 stressors were rated moderately or extremely stressful by…

Public Black colleges have managed to upgrade their campus facilities and create competitive programs as part of statewide higher education planning. Black private colleges have not found stable financial ground because they have been denied the commitment of Federal funds necessary for them to become self-sufficient. (BJV)

Examines the acquisition and use of computers in early childhood programs, focusing on the developmental appropriateness of computers for young children, compatibility and selection problems, and budgetary constraints. Also discusses classroom computer issues, such as location, usage, software selection, and gender equity. (MDM)

Discusses the organizational development of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) during the years 1982-1995. Describes the effort to establish national social studies standards in response to the national Goals 2000 movement. Describes the reorganization of the NCSS committee structure and central office staff. (CFR)

Financial and organizational problems in developing professional development schools are described. Structures and processes that allow these schools to contribute to the simultaneous reconstruction of the public schools in which teachers work and university programs in which teachers prepare are identified. (TJH)

Considers the nature of the urban crisis and proposed solutions. Policy ideas are presented that center on a level metropolitan playing field, one in which neither governments nor residents of cities and suburbs would be hostage to their municipal profiles and would have no incentives to seek comparative advantage. (SLD)

Western countries' energetic reform efforts over the past decade are having insufficient effects on student achievement. School improvement literature suggests that policy makers focus on classroom practice, develop varied curriculum and teaching programs, consider reform context and staff development, build capacity, and improve research and…

Describes a new program entitled Faith in the City created to strengthen and enhance every aspect of Catholic elementary education in Washington's center city, and to find ways to help the schools grow by working together. (YKH)

Institutional responses to the fiscal crisis in American higher education, as well as state and federal initiatives, are pushing universities toward four interrelated structural reforms: institutional differentiation; shift from basic to applied research and development; increased interdisciplinarity; and a shift from department-based research to…

Gives an overview of the history of historically black colleges and universities, current enrollment and funding trends, and the issues, challenges, and struggles that continue to threaten their existence. Despite substantial enrollment increases since the mid-1980s, a number of concerns remain, including large institutional financial deficits,…

The long economic boom enabled school districts nationwide to fund expensive reforms and hefty pay raises. Now, however, they are finding it nearly impossible to cut costs and balance their budgets. The specific path to financial distress is unique in each case. Any number of factors, from excessively generous concessions at the bargaining table…

Faculty (n=484) and administrators (n=189) at five public comprehensive universities that had experienced annual budget reductions of at least 10 percent were surveyed concerning their job satisfaction and reactions to the reduction process. Three institutions were identified as having used unplanned approaches, and two used planned approaches.…