Access and affordability are the main themes of Goal 1 of The Virginia Plan for Higher Education. Progress toward these goals can be measured by a variety of means, but access and affordability serve as foundational guiding principles as the Commonwealth of Virginia crafts its annual and biennial higher-education budgets. Student-loan debt is but…

This document describes customized, employer-specific training programs for incumbent workers and new hires operated in 45 states. Unlike federal programs, state programs are economic tools to attract and retain jobs; are employer-, not worker-centered; have few requirements for targeting individuals; and train incumbent workers for new jobs or…

This report shows how and why state governments must take the lead in solving the debilitating problems of high risk youth. These young persons will fail to become productive citizens without special interventions to improve their educational, occupational, and social skills. The basic problem is defined and research on effective responses is…

New York's Special Delinquency Prevention Program (SDPP) was started in 1978 to provide preventive services to youth who most likely might become involved in the juvenile, social services, or mental health systems. In 1987, this program funded 542 community youth programs at a cost of $14 million. This audit assesses the Division for Youth's…

In 1991, Massachusetts passed an interdistrict choice law that gave parents the option of enrolling their child in any district they selected. Six years later, David Armor and Brett Peiser conducted a study to examine the social, racial, and financial impact of the choice program on participating districts, and to determine if the thesis behind…

There have been numerous attempts over the past seven years to replace the federally-funded Work Incentive Program (WIN) with another type of work program. As a result of increased flexibility, decreased federal funds, and continuing debate about welfare reform, there is now considerable variability among states in the types of employment and…

Formula budgeting in the financing of public higher education is examined. Budget formulas are defined as a means of applying predetermined average cost rates to quantifiable institutional program measures in order to calculate the dollar resource requirements for a future year. Seven characteristics of budget formulas are described: (1) their…

The New York State Legislature provided $11.2 million to start up, renovate, improve, and/or operate child care centers on campuses of the City University of New York (CUNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY). The 60 child care centers had over 4,500 children enrolled for 1987-88, and 20 centers opened as a direct result of the state…