Discusses the trend toward centralized decision making in schools brought about by state legislatures specifying curricular details. In the process, authority is shifted upwards to state level, and professionals become demoralized about changing or improving their schools' curricula. Citing Texas legislation and 11 other references, this paper…

Describes a study of the nature of the changing authority relationship between community colleges and their statewide administration. Focuses on statewide mandates and community college compliance in California. Indicates strong state influence on processes for goal achievement and a trend toward increasingly centralized decision making. (LAL)

Five models of organizational decision-making are described, and a case study of the rational model as seen in the budget process at Stanford University during the 1970s is presented. Several issues are addressed to help administrators who are interested in increasing the organization's rational decision-making. The five models are as follows: the…

In Canada, school-based decision making is a political expedient to co-opt public support for public education at the same time as financial resources to schools are being curtailed. School councils are advisory in nature and have no statutory position in either school or school-system decisions. (17 references) (MLF)

Uses Israel as an example to examine three variables--size, organizational mode, and political value system--and their effects on educational policy making and planning at a national level. Argues that in Israel's case small size, centralization, and democracy interact to create a new type of planning behavior termed the enlightenment approach.…

The adoption and systematic use of planning guidelines and the pursuit of a disciplined strategy for implementation have provided the University of Miami with a powerful process for shaping its future. Decentralized and responsive centralized planning, defining the planning process, and guidelines used by the University of Miami are presented.…

A study was conducted to determine the location of authority in multi-unit two-year colleges. Inquiry forms listed 84 practices categorized as general (e.g., accreditation), business, curriculum, instruction, administrative personnel, teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, research, services, student development services, and relationships…

Presents findings of a national study regarding state-level educational policy for HIV-positive children and focuses on current implementation and practice of such policy, or lack thereof, as well as the states' perceptions of needed policy improvements. Analyzes responses in terms of states' experiences, need, and centralized decision making. (AF)