For-profit colleges do not always recruit aggressively; nor do they always shortchange students. But the problem of colleges systematically overpromising and underdelivering, when it does happen, has largely been a for-profit phenomenon. The abuses have been the most widespread and most damaging when they have been fueled by government grants and…

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and their associated high-stakes testing are key parts of the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) initiative. There has been considerable resistance to both CCSS and related testing, particularly from conservative actors. This resistance suggests that CCSS has caused substantial tension within the conservative…

Drawing on a qualitative case study of four Head Start sites, this article analyzes a number of governing patterns that have emerged and grown in the field of early childhood education and care in the United States. This article specifically highlights a government's enhanced oversight and management of Head Start programs by mandating a school…

More than a decade ago, Michael Lewis penned the influential book "Moneyball." An examination of how Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane used data to make his franchise competitive with wealthier baseball teams, the book struck a chord. Beane's strategy of making decisions based on data had a powerful and positive impact on the…

President Obama's FY 2013 budget request includes another major spending increase for the Department of Education--2.5 percent more than last year--to nearly $70 billion. American taxpayers are calling for spending restraint in Washington, yet President Obama's proposals would exacerbate the existing bureaucratic maze of federal programs and…

The transition out of high school to postsecondary education or the workforce can be a challenging time, especially for students with disabilities. Multiple federal agencies fund programs to support these students during their transition. In 2003, GAO reported that limited coordination among these programs can hinder a successful transition. GAO…

This article offers an analysis of the origins, evolution, and impact of the Obama administration's Race to the Top (RTTT) competitive grant program and places it in the broader context of the debate over the No Child Left Behind Act and the shifting intergovernmental relations around education. RTTT is fundamentally about two things: creating…

This hearing is the first in a series convened by the Committee on Education and the Workforce to examine federal rules and regulations that undermine the strength of the nation's education system. The House has charged this committee to look at rules and regulations within the jurisdiction that may hinder job creation and economic growth. This…

The U.S. Department of Education is conducting several activities to address privacy and security issues related to education data. Earlier this year a contractor for the Department convened a group of privacy and security experts and produced a report with recommendations to the Department on ways they can address emerging challenges in…

These seven symposium papers examine the record of federal intervention in the workplace and focus on the forces that gave rise to federal intervention. Although a precise calculus for evaluation has not yet been designed, the presenters attempt to assess whether federal actions have served the interests of labor, management, and the public at…

Recent energy-related accidents and growing attention to health problems resulting from the production and use of energy have heightened public concern about the effectiveness of government's role in energy health and safety. At least 20 Federal agencies are involved in energy health and safety, each operating independently of the other. A central…

Americans are in a period of uncertainty about the scale of government, the best form of governmental services, and the fundamental principles that should guide governmental action. An increase in the scale of government does not necessarily mean that people demand more services. The scale of government may increase because state and municipal…

Chronicles the development of public broadcasting from early attempts to develop noncommercial radio through organizations such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting Service. Discusses the need for federal support and the resulting conflicts. (JMF)

National-level educational policy is being rapidly decentralized, according to this article, which offers a historical framework for understanding the new era in national education politics. The author analyzes implications of the changes taking place and discusses options open to proponents of a vigorous federal role in education. (Author/WD)

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to: (1) describe major federal requirements that affect school districts; (2) identify key issues school districts face in implementing these requirements; and (3) analyze the impact of the Department of Education's flexibility initiatives on school districts' ability to address these implementation…