The nature of State education agencies and of the environment in which they operate often diminishes their ability to bring about educational improvements even when the agencies are given the money to do so. (Author/DN)

Important past research on the state role, particularly that of state education agencies, in making and implementing educational policy is reviewed and assessed. Gaps in research and current issues are identified, and suggestions are offered for the future. (RL)

One view of accountability focuses on schemes that assume that if government can get more rational information and use it in more scientific ways, the schools' performance can be improved; the other assumes that the schools' problems are less scientific than political and that clients and constituents should influence educational decisions more…

In this article, the author focuses on some organizational constraints placed upon educational policy while exploring the impact of federal discretionary funds on state education agencies. (Editor/RK)

Identifies a number of factors contributing to ineffective administration of Title I programs. (Author/MF)

This study of the impact of unrestricted federal aid on State bureaucracies describes how federal money was spent in nine SEA's (particularly in Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina). It also examines whether Title V promoted a rethinking of SEA priorities and led to a "thorough overhaul" of SEA activities. Study findings reveal…

This paper, prepared for a National Institute of Education conference on state governance issues in education, reviews the most important recent research on the role of the executive branch in state education policy-making and implementation. The literature review is divided into five categories: (1) input/output studies; (2) policy-making…