Characteristics of evaluative studies used by California state legislators are discussed: specificity in addressing particular policy decisions; factors which contribute to or hinder the accomplishment of educational objectives; balanced studies with a range of indicators; and attention to local concerns, and to fiscal and legal issues. (MH)

Schools must accelerate the development of expertise in the area of self-governance to countermand the increasing burden of external legislative intervention. (LH)

The dangerous communication gap between the university and the public is described. Barriers to effective communication are identified and suggestions are provided for eliminating them. Barriers include failure to perform up to expectations, lack of candor, lack of systematic plan for communication, and persuasion rather than information. (MLW)

The author maintains that counselors have a professional responsibility to all school personnel by providing consultation and continuous training in all aspects of pupil analysis in order to keep accurate and helpful student records. (Author)

The increased use of assigned tasks in social work practice heightens the need for techniques that practitioners can use to enhance the likelihood that clients will adopt the desired behavior. The authors describe several techniques that have received empirical confirmation in research studies. (Author)

Although many colleges and institutions find the new legislation resulting from the consumer movement to be a threat to institutional autonomy, the author views these initiatives as encouragement to establish greater understanding in the public mind about the processes and results of postsecondary education. Ordered public disclosure may be a…

Summarizes some history concerning college programs for students with disabilities, illustrating the evolving nature of the profession. Discusses future challenges, including role stress and conflict, updating of professional standards, professional competencies, training and professional development, job functions of other professionals, and…

For any school-based-management model to succeed, the important functions of a school district's business office must be redesigned to shift authority and support for most fiscal decisions to school site. Some of the complexities of shifting the fiscal management to schools include technology, transportation, maintenance and operation, risk…

Maintains that the equal marginal value principle may not be optimal in the analysis of the cost-effectiveness of policies to reduce auto emissions, the economics of garbage disposal, and the economics of pollution abatement. Argues that examining these exceptions can help students understand the equal marginal value principle. (MJP)

The University of California at Los Angeles, in attempting to respond to state legislators' demands to redirect teaching and research to match society's needs, has faced substantial administrative challenges. A Responsibility Center Management model for strategic institutional planning has failed to produce desired changes and has tended to…

An authority on student assessment says the ability of public schools to meet federal expectations will depend on the instructional sensitivity of the tests in use. Offers a six-step blueprint for carrying out a public-information campaign about NCLB tests. Lists websites for two reports by five national education associations on instructionally…

Reviews policy changes in the field of teacher training and qualifications in England since 1983 for elementary/secondary teachers, higher education faculty, and further education teachers. Concludes that the government's piecemeal approach to teacher training and development has created some serious anomalies, particularly in the situation of…

Discusses federal educational policies for educational reform and improvement based on standards, student assessment, and accountability. Topics include the No Child Left Behind initiative; standardized tests; the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; the role of learning technologies; distributed learning; infrastructures for learning…

Discusses how child-centered educational philosophies, including Montessori, share positions differing radically from those of the educational standards movement. Focuses on adult-set goals and standards, social promotion, external motivators, demands for more challenging work, and standardized tests. Reports that children in child-centered…

Discusses factors for authentic collaborative learning with computers. Highlights include software design, social environment, preparatory activities, accountability structures, and group assignment rationale. Discussion highlights advantages of collaborative learning and the alternatives of individual and large group computer-based environments.…