Trying to analyze developments in the federal budget in 1996 was particularly confusing to most Americans. This book serves as a guide for understanding the ever-changing, complex federal budget process. Chapter 1 explains in detail key terms and concepts. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) budget process. Under the…

This study examined what high-end users (those who use e-mail many times during the day) do with e-mail and how they feel about it. The sample consisted of 12 students and faculty in the Instructional Systems Technology (IST) department at Indiana University. Participants were divided into three groups: faculty, non-first year students, and first…

This self-study book concentrates on enabling trainers to talk and think in a business-related way, use business concepts and terminology, and translate training and development ideas into a business setting. Each part contains activities to enable users to study their training and development function and organization and consider how to use the…

In 1995, Johnson County Community College (JCCC), in Kansas, conducted a study to estimate the economic benefit contributed by the college to the Johnson County economy for 1993-94. Following a model developed by J. G. Ryan, direct economic impact was assessed by examining institutional expenditures, expenditures by college employees, and…

This document presents findings of a study that examined costs incurred by local education agencies (LEAs) in the state of Illinois for the delivery of special-education services. Data were obtained from a survey of 110 out of 296 Illinois school districts in 6 geographical regions, a 37 percent response rate. Findings indicate that the…

Information systems are a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for improving the efficiency of educational systems. Improving the Education Management Information System must be the foundation of any long-term effort to enhance the efficiency of the Nepalese system. Three critical conditions must be met to enhance system efficiency…

A seminar assessed the status of primary education in Nepal. "Efficiency Issues in the Primary Education System in Nepal" (I. P. Upadhyay) examined the causes and consequences of efforts to expand access to primary education in a resource-efficient manner. "Current Perspectives on Educational Efficiency" (David Chapman)…

Findings of an audit of the New York State Education Department's oversight of school-district transportation contracting practices are provided in this report. The primary purpose of the audit was to assess the extent to which district officials fostered a competitive environment when contracting for transportation services and the effectiveness…

The increasing use of computer technology for sending and receiving electronic mail messages not only signifies changes in how we communicate, but also signals changes in the skills, knowledge, and practices associated with communication by mail. Some of the characteristics of electronic mail (e-mail) are considered. E-mail refers to the capacity…

This document presents findings of an evaluation of two projects of the Aga Khan Foundation's School Improvement Programme located in Kisumu, Kenya, and Bombay, India. The program is based on the assumption that effective change consists of a focus on the individual school, clinical methods of teacher development, and improved school management.…

A study examined the benefits of investments in the University of Idaho College of Agriculture (UICA) research and extension programs. Data were collected from personal interviews conducted in fiscal year 1986-87 with all principal investigators, co-researchers, and Cooperative Extension Service (CES) subject matter specialists involved in funded…

This study used the frontier cost function framework to examine cost efficiency in public higher education. The frontier cost function estimates the minimum predicted cost for producing a given amount of output. Data from the annual Almanac issues of the "Chronicle of Higher Education" were used to calculate state level enrollments at two-year and…

This report addresses issues in the efforts of colleges and universities to reduce costs. First, some key findings are identified, including the rapid increase in tuition since 1981; decreases in academic library expenditures; increases in cooperative arrangements; use of more adjunct faculty; and increased privatization of services. Individual…

This essay explores what is known and what remains to be learned about the information value of performance items when they are used in large scale assessment. Within the context of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), there is substantial interest in answering these questions as issues of national assessment are considered for…

Small size is often cited by reformers and parents as the key ingredient necessary to create an effective learning environment. In New York City, the new public secondary schools have consistently smaller numbers of students than most existing high schools. The literature is unambiguous that smaller schools show better outputs than schools of…