Three advantages in automating special education information management (accuracy, speed, new information) are noted, and five misconceptions (regarding costs, need for monitoring, and system independence) are revealed. (CL)

Cost simulation models offer an important new tool for colleges and universities struggling with new demands for greater efficiency and accountability. However, there are many approaches to modeling, a variety of models available to planners, and confusion in the minds of administrators about their use. This article capsules the proceedings of a…

Discusses the use of computers to help do some of the things a training department has to do to teach things to people. Suggests 12 ways to use computers to manage training functions. (JOW)

Describes applications of microcomputers to aspects of accounting and auditing, including such areas as financial statements, recordkeeping, and operations analysis. (SK)

The article is intended to help rehabilitation agency directors and board members understand functional fund accounting and a good financial management information system. The author stresses the advantages of a regular audit done by certified public accountants. (Author)

Studies the similarities and differences between data processing and word processing. Recommends the merger of the two technologies into a system that can provide both functions effectively. (SK)

Stresses the need for records management procedures to evaluate and retire government records to archival storage for developing nations. These procedures encompass inventory, records analysis, preparation of retirement instruments, appraisal, and the implementation of the provisions of the retirement instruments. (Author/RAA)

Discusses the introduction of management information systems (MISs) into schools. The loosely coupled (LC) nature of schools is compared with tightly coupled (TC) systems, including administrative and instructional functions; school "compucation" (a combination of computer and communication) is described; and three levels of school…

At the end of secondary education in The Netherlands, students have to pass a final examination, consisting of an internal school-based assessment and an external national assessment. According to the Dutch inspectorate, to ensure the quality of final examinations, the discrepancy between both assessments must be less than 0.5 points (on a scale…

This longitudinal study examines the effects of a collaborative evaluation process on mathematics instruction and student outcomes in an elementary school serving a low-resource community. Thirty-two elementary teachers participated in a 3-year collaborative evaluation professional development process that contributed to improved mathematics…

This article examines the convergence of two popular school improvement policies: instructional coaching and data-driven decision making (DDDM). Drawing on a mixed methods study of a statewide reading coach program in Florida middle schools, the article examines how coaches support DDDM and how this support relates to student and teacher outcomes.…

This teaching case documents an actual case of process execution and failure. The case is useful in MIS introductory courses seeking to demonstrate the interdependencies within a business process, and the concept of cascading failure at the process level. This case demonstrates benefits and potential problems with information technology systems,…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the economic stimulus bill, channeled an unprecedented $100 billion into the nation's public education system. These funds were intended not only to avert teacher layoffs and stabilize state and local education budgets in the short term, but also to encourage reforms that…

The average school district loses more than $80,000 per year because of lost or damaged IT assets, according to a QED survey cosponsored by Follett Software Company. And many districts--59 percent--still use manual systems to track assets. Enter asset management systems. Software for managing assets, when implemented properly, can save time,…

Although computers and information technology (IT) have penetrated the field of social work, little research has systematically studied how users respond to this infusion. Information systems researchers have accumulated significant insights into IT acceptance in business organizations after decades of efforts. In this study, users in the social…