This chapter explores the extent of differences among the 50 states in their degree of centralized state control over local school policy, and then further searches for regional variations in the degree of educational policy centralization throughout the United States. Most of the chapter presents and discusses data from a massive content analysis…

This book contains papers discussing inter-sectoral educational planning in countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Intersectoral educational planning is interpreted as educational policy formation by any country which takes into consideration influences generated by that country's social and…

As sociological approach to the study of contemporary American cities is presented in this book. Present day urban institutions are examined both independently and as they interrelate. The urban polity is described as a normative derivative of the national (or societal) polity. Urban government and politics are discussed. Similarly, urban economy…

During the last 30 years, direct mail campaigning has become an integral part of the political process, and more recently has also become an influential fund raising tool for other political and religious groups. Analysis of over 70 examples of direct mail campaigns reveals at least 4 major content norms featured in most direct mail. First, the…

This document includes three units on applications of first-order difference equations to American politics. The first module is designed to help the user: 1) develop flexibility in analyzing difference equations in quadratic format; 2) understand how Choundy and Phillips' Theorem can be used to provide information about the time path of a…

Perspectives on the legislative process in Virginia and the relationship between the higher education community and the legislature are presented by a state senator. Virginia's legislature operates on a 60-day calendar basis, has an executive budget, and the governor has item veto power. The budget process requires that constituencies needing…

This report of a study of the activities of a secret planning board, formed to promote the nomination of Dwight Eisenhower through the intensive use of television, concludes that the significance of television planning in the 1952 Eisenhower campaign had less to do with the outcome of the election than with the first massive use of television with…

Kentucky's first education service agency (ESA) network was initiated in 1972. After expanding to cover most of the state, it was dissolved in 1976 for lack of funding. Using case study methodology, this paper discusses the historical background of Kentucky's educational system, the establishment and abolition of educational regions and of the ESA…

New Jersey's removal of $22 million from its 1979-80 state school aid payments requires that school administrators immediately establish priorities and explore options for dealing with enrollment decline. From 1969 to 1978 New Jersey K-6 enrollment has dropped 19.4 percent. The time for selecting reasonable approaches to declining enrollment is…

This study focuses on the political processes involved in the preparation and passage in 1973 of a school finance reform package in Illinois. The author places particular emphasis on how language was used to promote support for the legislation, how partisan politics affected voting patterns in the legislature on this issue, and how legislators…

Title IX legislation has had a widespread impact on institutions of higher education. Similar laws and regulations preceding Title IX include Executive Order 11246, the Comprehensive Health Manpower and Nurse Training Act, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. The pervasive influence of Title IX is indicated in its provisions concerning…

Although individuals aim their attempts to exert legitimate political influence at particular levels of government, the hierarchical organization of "political influence attempts" is an aspect of political participation which has not yet received systematic study. In order to examine the perceived political influence of rural people in a…

This paper discusses pregnancy disability compensation policies. On December 7, 1976, the Supreme Court held in "General Electric v. Gilbert" that exclusion of pregnancy and pregnancy related disabilities from coverage under an otherwise comprehensive temporary disabilities plan was not a violation of Title VII's prohibition of…

This paper examines noncoercion in international struggles, reviews instances in which positive inducements were combined with or used instead of coercion, and analyzes conditions affecting the utilization and effectiveness of noncoercive means in conducting international relations. Coercion refers to actual and threatened violent and nonviolent…

Model United Nations (MUN) conferences are held throughout the United States each year to help college students learn about major international issues and the problems and possibilities for international cooperation. There are many educational aspects of the MUN program in which students play the role of a representative of a particular country to…