This paper examines the debate in the U.S. Senate over the reasons why state governments have decreased funding for higher education. One side believes that federal mandates on states to pay for Medicaid have forced them to reduce spending on higher education. The other side believes that states unwisely reduced taxes, which decreased their…

Using data on housing voucher recipients with school-aged children residing across the state of Wisconsin, we perform a three-stage analysis of the relationship between voucher receipt and the educational opportunities of children in recipient households. First, we examine the extent to which voucher receipt results in households relocating to a…

Even the most cursory look at the current administration's approach to performance pay reveals a noteworthy story. Unlike all of his Democratic predecessors--and some of his Republican ones--President Obama not only appreciates the value of differentiating the compensation of teachers based on a effectiveness, he has put energy and money behind…

This paper (1) summarizes some of the recent research and evaluation of drug and other substance abuse programs, and (2) directs attention to the work of Federal agencies (NIDA and ADAMHA) concerned with drug and substance abuse, with special reference to the impact of this work on the alleviation of minority group drug abuse problems. Evidence is…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is committed to bringing together museums and libraries across the country for conversations dedicated to developing a better understanding of the roles of libraries and museums as providers of public service to communities. The Future of Libraries and Museums in the 21st Century Planning…

This paper reports on research designed to explore the status of children and the relationship of patterns of child care to social structure and social change. The study is based on interviews with scholars and government officials, an analysis of statistical data and research reports, and visits to day care centers, playgrounds, and other…

Discusses the role of the national values of efficiency, choice, and equity in the adoption and implementation of the federal education block grant program and the negative effects on school desegregation. Urges policymakers to consider policy goals, and not just policy instruments, when considering future proposals. (FMW)

The prevention planning process pursued within the National Institute of Mental Health in 1978 is described and related to federal proposals on primary prevention program planning in the mental health field. The conceptual frameworks and parameters of prevention planning are cited, along with the specific new prevention initiatives to be…

Results of five demonstration programs funded by the Women's Educational Equity Act in school districts throughout the United States are described. Demonstration sites were the Reidsville (North Carolina) City School System, Quincy (Massachusetts) Public Schools, Lincoln County (Oregon) School System, Tucson (Arizona) Unified School District, and…

This Technical Committee Report describes various forces compelling the recognition of older persons as a resource and looks at the older person as a national resource. General gains that come from the utilization of the skills and experiences of older people are discussed and gains specific to the employer, society, and the older person are…

The paper outlines the educational objectives of a course offered at the 1982 meeting of the American Academy on Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. The course addresses policy changes and trends in publically financed services to developmentally disabled persons. Topics covered in the outline are a continuum of care; historical…

This conference address, which originally concerned "gender issues in the schools," was modified at the last minute to contain arguments that counter and criticize a federal program for education put forth by President Ronald Reagan in a speech delivered earlier at the same conference, and the text of which is included here. The key…

Preliminary findings of this research effort provide support for the hypothesis that existing databases maintained by federal agencies for administrative or monitoring purposes can serve as useful data sources in special education policy research. The research explored the relationships among a number of state-level special education, fiscal, and…

Strategies to involve parents in the schooling of their children, especially parents of economically or educationally disadvantaged youngsters, are generally either advisory or collaborative. Advisory strategies structure parental involvement through councils at the school or district level. Collaborative strategies pursue various methods for…

This paper proposes a new emphasis on home-based parental involvement, one that takes a realistic approach to the roles accessible to parents of low-achieving children, given potential limitations on their skills and time. This approach is based on encouraging parents to use everyday activities in the home to develop in their children behavior and…