As voucher and tax-credit scholarship programs have expanded in recent years, another promising development has been the incorporation, into more such programs, of provisions that hold participating private schools to account for their students' performance. The newest and largest voucher programs, such as those in Louisiana and Indiana, have gone…

Across the country, states and districts are designing principal evaluation systems as a means of improving leadership, learning, and school performance. Principal evaluation systems hold potential for supporting leaders' learning and sense of accountability for instructional excellence and student performance. Principal evaluation also is an…

This Quick Reference Document is being distributed by the Regional Resource Center Program ARRA/Fiscal Priority Team to provide RRCP state liaisons and other (Technical Assistance) TA providers with a summary of critical fiscal monitoring and support activities they may be involved in during calendar years 2011 and 2012. Like other documents in…

This Quick Reference Document has been prepared by the Regional Resource Center Program ARRA/Fiscal Priority Team to aid RRCP State Liaisons and other (Technical Assistance) TA providers in understanding the general context of state questions surrounding excess cost. As a "first-stop" for TA providers in investigating excess cost…

The increasing intrusion of the federal government in institutional affairs and accountability make audits of higher education institutions inevitable. Some suggestions on how to be prepared for an audit are provided. Suggestions include familiarization with regulations, current indirect cost rate, and current rate for benefits negotiated with…

Federal guidelines are detailed and specific as to what data are needed for full-cost accounting by school districts participating in federally funded school food service programs. (Author/MLF)

Discusses changes in the accounting requirements for nonprofit organizations resulting from the implementation of two Statements of Financial Accounting Standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Examines changes in recording transactions, ascertaining the correct way to record donations or unconditional promises for donations,…

This manual contains information about the selection and implementation of a meal counting and claiming system for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (BSP). Federal reimbursement is provided for each meal that meets program requirements and is served to an eligible student. Part 1 explains the six elements of…

The broad range of copyright issues educators face in the classroom are discussed. The discussion focuses on the fair use provision of the 1976 Copyright Act as it applies to the reproduction of print, software, and video materials. (SM)

Charter schools are publicly financed schools that are governed by teachers, parents, administrators, or others who want to create and manage an innovative public school. This document briefly defines charter schools and provides an overview of their history. It also discusses the stance toward charter schools taken by President Clinton, who…

This reference guide outlines what is new for educational programs under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. It also describes how the NCLB's four guiding principles--(1) focus on what works; (2) reduce bureaucracy and increase flexibility; (3) increase accountability for student performance; and (4) empower parents--are brought to bear…

This publication presents the final regulations to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990. The first section is an analysis of the regulations. This analysis compares the proposed regulations to the final version and explains the differences between the two and the potential impact on program administration.…

This report presents guidelines for secondary school principals for including students with disabilities in large scale educational assessments. In the summer of 2001, a focus group of 13 administrators were brought together to share these promising practices for ensuring that students with disabilities participate in state and district-wide…

This publication is a resource guide to the regulations governing the use of federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990 dollars. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the audit process and the handbook. Chapter 2 covers the key elements in each section of the Perkins Act. Chapter 3 provides an overview of all…

This publication is a guide with the materials necessary for leading a workshop session on Chapter 1 schoolwide project evaluations aimed at meeting federal accountability requirements. As the packet points out, elementary school, middle school, and secondary school projects differ from the traditional Chapter 1 delivery models and as a…