Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has become sufficiently widespread to require attention to the relationships between its costs, administration and benefits. Despite difficulties in instituting them, quantifiable cost-effectiveness analyses offer several advantages. They allow educators to specify with precision anticipated instructional loads,…

This volume describes an automated procedure for multiyear enrollment forecasting in the Trenton, New Jersey, public schools. Enrollment forecasts generated by this procedure will provide enrollment estimates in each district's instructional program. Data required to operate the forecaster will be collected during the second year of its operation.…

This manual represents a part of the work performed in the past two years in connection with Trenton's Project -- Building a Comprehensive Planning Capability with EPPBS -- funded through ESEA Title III. The "capability" refers to a set of concepts and procedures that will allow the Trenton Public Schools to raise the level of debate in…

This second part of a final report delineating policy issues and analytical problems in evaluating vocational education, includes three extensive appendixes and a wide range of tables. The appendixes include: (1) the methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis and a critique of the methodology of major studies, with illustrations; (2) selected…

This report presents a strong argument and general guidelines for the development of a Management Information System (MIS) for the Community College System of Connecticut. Also included are ideas to assist state budgeting and finance officers in making a Planning, Programming, Budgeting System (PPBS) an effective operation in that state. Part I of…

Program budgeting is more than a neat method of budgeting by program; hence it requires more than just concentration on budgeting and accounting procedures. Program budgeting, basically a resource allocations system, stresses the setting of objectives, grouping activities into programs to meet the objectives, identifying the resources required by…

To enable vocational educators to evaluate programs and account for the use of allocated resources, this monograph describes a rational decision-making process based on the Input, Process, Product, Impact conceptual structure for occupational education. In a rational management process, all management behavior is consistent with specified…

Eight field-tested staffing strategies for community-based programs for severely handicapped students are described. Advantages and disadvantages are summarized, and a decision-making process for selecting strategies is discussed. Among recommendations are the need to maximize coordination between school and nonschool instruction and to collect…

The planning and implementation of a computerized management information system at a fictional small college is described. Nine key points are made regarding department involvement, centralization, gradual program implementation, lowering costs, system documentation, and upper-level administrative support. (MSE)

The characteristics of needs assessment, in terms of social and health programs, are discussed, as well as misunderstandings, criticisms, and suggested changes in needs assessment activities. (MH)

Describes the Community Systems initiative, a collaborative project underway in Ontario to involve neighborhood residents, broad community networks, government, and nongovernmental organizations in the support of children and families. The initiative's goal is to improve the well-being of children, youth, and their families by finding ways to use…

This report describes a study that surveyed the provision of engineering distance education worldwide and investigated specifically the views of major providers in the United Kingdom (UK). Three countries were selected for indepth investigation: Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Findings indicated the use of electronic media was growing…

This book is directed to any educator who is interested in the use of the computer to improve classroom instruction. It is a book about the materials, human factors, and decision-making procedures that make up the instructional application of computers. This document's single goal is to promote educators' thoughtful selection and use of both…

A research project was undertaken to design, develop, implement, and test a model to examine and evaluate curriculum programs on a cost efficiency basis. The researchers used existing information and the computerized data management system at Nash Technical College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to evaluate the cost effectiveness of each…

The two reports presented here describe an 18-month project intended to review and evaluate the first year's activities of the Office of Telecommunications Policy's (OTP) Telecommunications Demonstration Program for the delivery of social and health services; develop approaches for evaluating individual demonstration programs in the future;…