Findings of a national survey of educational committee chairs to identify and rank the top five issues in education are summarized in this report. The top five issues, in order of importance, are the following: K-12 school finance; accountability; at-risk youth; higher education finance; and early childhood education. Effectiveness is identified…

The accelerating growth of restitution as an institutionalized program in juvenile courts throughout the country is documented. According to studies, the number of formal restitution programs has increased from approximately 15 in 1977 to more than 400 in 1989. Program components include financial restitution, community service, victim-offender…

The use of quantitative decision making tools provides the decision maker with a range of alternatives among which to decide, permits acceptance and use of the optimal solution, and decreases risk. Training line administrators in the use of these tools can help school business officials obtain reliable information upon which to base district…

A panel of university based consultants examined the admissions process of New York City Public High schools in order to make recommendations that would increase access to programs and schools for all populations without reducing school effectiveness. The six sections of the report include: (1) perceptions of the problems and rationales; (2) new…

Drug law enforcement has become the number one criminal justice priority of the United States Department of Justice and is an area of great concern to those involved in the juvenile justice system. The new philosophy of juvenile justice holds juveniles responsible for their conduct, emphasizing an accountability or justice model which focuses on…

New approaches to allocating state resources to colleges are discussed. Budgeting and resource allocation principles are considered that: (1) reflect the unique context of higher education; (2) are consistent with sound budgeting and management principles; and (3) represent institutional mechanisms applied at the state level rather than approaches…

With the rise of absolutism and determinism, conformity--the conformity generated by bureaucratized social institutions, entrenched economic and political interests, monopolized sources of information, and moral majoritarianism--has begun to pose a major threat to democratic community in America. This paper focuses on the conceptual relationships…

A 3-year study of the processes used to implement Bill 82 (an amendment to the Education Act that provides more effective education for special needs students in Ontario) was reported. Structured interviews were conducted yearly with 59 regular and special education teachers and 26 principals from 26 elementary and secondary schools under the…

This paper describes a research study on promotion with reservation, in which students are accountable for their course work and must repeat courses they have failed. Subjects of the study were seventh and eighth grade students at Scenic Junior High School, Oregon. These students failed required courses during the school year 1983-84 and chose…

At the request of Congressman Charles B. Rangel, the General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted an investigation of federal efforts in drug abuse prevention and education activities, focusing on: (1) how the federal government provides leadership and coordination; (2) the federal agencies involved in drug abuse prevention and education activities;…

Most states pursue accountability in public education by collecting and reporting school data, but types of data collected, and how those data are reported and used in holding schools accountable, differ from state to state. This report is designed for state policymakers desiring to refine their existing accountability systems. The report's six…

The majority of empirical studies on performance appraisal (PA) systems focus on the search for the perfect form in which subjective traits are replaced by objective and job-relevant, measurable behaviors. Organizations using a PA system to evaluate their employees struggle with issues of implementation, adaptation, and linkage with other human…

This summary report is one of a series addressing major policy, management, or program issues facing Congress and the administration. The issues identified in this report indicate the need to: reduce the cost and preserve the integrity of higher education student loan and grant programs; enhance the federal role in monitoring lenders, agencies,…

The report describes a 1.5-year project to create a comprehensive plan for the development of residential services for persons with developmental disabilities in New Mexico. Findings represent input from advocates, family members, state officials, community representatives, legislators, and local service administrators. Part One of the report…

Directed to Canadian directors of centers for adult education, this document describes what constitutes quality in a center for adult education and tells how to develop a high quality center. The document consists of three chapters and two appendices. Chapter 1 explains the five dimensions that determine the quality of a center and the 5 factors…