Unless educators engage in thorough planning, in making the most efficient use of economic resources, and in interpreting to the public why education deserves high priority, public education is in for a long period of gradual decline. The central thrust of the current administrative era is the management of decline, or decremental planning. The…

Because of the increasing underutilization of school facilities in Arlington (Virginia), a case study of the management of these facilities was undertaken. The purposes of the study were to discover the political interactions leading to policy decisions on the management of underutilized facilities, to determine the actual policies that resulted…

Tenured faculty can be dismissed for reasons of financial exigency. If the employment contract provides a specific definition of fiscal exigency and the processes to be used in effecting retrenchment, then those terms govern in lieu of constitutional due process. In the absence of such guidance, courts are willing to allow dismissal for reasons of…

Several of the major difficulties that faced urban school systems during the decade from 1965 to 1975 are considered briefly in this short document. One of these problems is the changing nature of the urban population and the resultant stresses on urban districts. Other issues include declining enrollment; insufficient financial support at local,…

Declining enrollments in college-level geography courses have caused educators to assess current curriculum and research emphases within geography departments and to appraise those courses of action they might take to enhance geography's attractiveness to students. Current problems affecting geography can be placed in two categories--(1) general…

The history of a higher education demand assessment program in Manitoba is outlined, beginning with a sharp dip in enrollment in 1970. A three-year project was begun with three snapshot surveys of grade 12 decision-making in February, May, and June. The second year involved two snapshots, and the third used only one. During this time, attitudes…

Twenty years after the baby boom, U.S. population is falling and school enrollment is declining. Contrary to public expectations, smaller enrollment does not mean smaller school budgets, and balancing the educational budget will require cutting programs, closing schools, and reducing teacher force. The experience of the East Meadow (New York)…

This task force in Hamden, Connecticut, discovered an intricate relationship among declining enrollment and finances, buildings, community impact, and educational impact. Their study resulted in nine conclusions and recommendations. (1) We will recommend to the board of education criteria, procedures, and timetables for closing a school. (2)…

The closing of a school is a difficult step for everyone involved. In this review, 11 entries in the ERIC system about school closing are summarized. Included are suggestions for administrators to involve the community in the decision-making, and alternative uses of school buildings. Case studies are included that highlight how school districts…

This annotated bibliography reflects an attempt to indicate the range and quality of published responses to the complex phenomenon of declining enrollments in elementary and secondary schools. It is intended to suggest sources of practical information and advice and to provide a larger context for administrators coping with the effects of decline…

A study involving interviews with administrators at seven randomly selected Southern California community colleges was conducted to identify the marketing strategies undertaken by these institutions to increase student recruitment. During the interviews, respondents were asked to: (1) outline the functions of their public relations office; (2)…

Considering the national and provincial economic environments for the next decade, this paper projects financial resources and constraints likely to be faced by school boards in Ontario over the same period. The study utilizes an econometric model developed by the Institute for Policy Analysis of the University of Toronto. The findings indicate…

In highlighting findings from five separate studies on the characteristics of public school personnel in Minnesota, this study seeks to assist legislators, public agency staffs, school board members, and administrators in gaining a better understanding of the educator labor force as they engage in policy development and planning for the decade…

A record of two days of hearings is presented conducted by the United States House of Representatives into (1) demographic trends affecting elementary and secondary education and (2) student achievement levels on standardized tests. Prepared statements by each person speaking before the committee are given, dealing with (1) a summary and…

Perspectives on postsecondary education planning at the state level are presented. Statewide planning in higher education emerged as a result of the large number of college students occurring after World War II. The important contribution of planning in the 1960's was to expand the physical plant; in the 1970's planning became a little more…