Since 2001, U.S. states have mandated that principals in unsuccessful schools author a school improvement plan (SIP) using the rational model of planning. Research on their efficacy is sparse and evidence suggests that principals satisfice on these SIPs, producing work that is "good enough" to meet concerns for external legitimacy over…

In the United States, higher education institutions must be authorized as postsecondary education providers -- through a process known as state authorization -- to be eligible to receive federal student financial aid funds. Through state authorization policies, state governments play a key role in maintaining accountability for higher education.…

Research information management (RIM) is a rapidly growing area of investment in US research universities. RIM systems that support the collection and use of research outputs metadata have been in place for many years. Globally, the RIM ecosystem is quite mature in locales where national research assessment exercises like the United Kingdom's…

Research Information Management (RIM) is a rapidly growing area of investment in US research universities, comprised of a variety of use cases, stakeholders, and products. This growth has been characteristically decentralized, resulting in silos, multiple systems, and frequent duplication of efforts at many institutions. This report is a two-part…

The role of the school leader is changing, as increasing regulatory obligations in the form of federal, state, and local mandates impact a principal's ability to make autonomous decisions. Autonomy, or the ability to self-direct and make independent decisions, is a leadership aspect that fosters communal relationships; autonomy for school leaders…

Technology has often been called the "great equalizer" that will bring more opportunity and access with each advancement. That advancement has continued to grow exponentially for decades. Unfortunately, the promise of greater access has not always been fulfilled because digital accessibility for people with disabilities is not guaranteed…

District leaders seeking to close schools often frame decisions as "right-sizing" or "modernizing the footprint" of the district. Historical influences such as population and economic shifts and desegregation during the civil rights era, and more recent factors like deteriorating building conditions, school performance…

The audit objective for this report was to determine whether the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PA Education) and selected Pennsylvania local educational agencies have sufficient internal controls to ensure that individualized education programs (IEP) are developed in accordance with Federal and State requirements for children with…

Contemporary education reform movements in the United States have emphasized accountability for student performance. Policy actors serving within the executive branch have arguably gained power in part to provide this accountability function. The present study, in which Ohio and Pennsylvania serve as state case contexts, examines the changing…

Background: Today's healthcare organizations face financial and educational challenges of sustaining electronic medical record (EMR) advancements and regulatory reporting mandates. One such mandate is providing EMR education in the Operating Room (OR) setting to support reporting compliance and patient safety. Local Problem: At a multi-state…

The purpose of this study was to explore and examine perceptions among public and private higher education leaders in Pennsylvania regarding their institutions Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) codes of conduct, ethics training programs, and practices of ethics. Highly publicized misconduct incidents warranted the need for scrutiny of the…

The purpose of this study was to examine rulings of Pennsylvania hearing officers in cases that addressed procedural denials of a FAPE and provide recommendations to school districts. In order to develop recommendations, an examination of the 50 most recent due process cases occurred. The study examined the procedural regulation mentioned in the…

This paper explores post-secondary faculty perceptions of awareness and preparedness relating to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Institutions of higher education are businesses. The largest threat to sustained viability for many businesses is litigation. Business-related litigation is often the result of non-employment discrimination or…

In the wake of multistate outbreaks and subsequent economic cost and health causalities, food industry stakeholders formulated policies for their produce suppliers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guidance on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) have been the basis for most of the industry initiated GAP certifications or audit processes. In…

Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…