A secondary school librarian uses her experience to compare Canadian and Australian secondary school libraries in terms of educational philosophy, library role, staffing, budgets, resources, and library organization. (CLB)

Although California ranked sixth in 1983 per capita income, the state ranks 23rd in 1984-85 public school expenditures per pupil and 50th in student-teacher ratios. To address underfunding and class size problems, a Trust Fund for School Improvement is needed to coordinate fragmented funding sources for well-planned local projects. Included are 10…

Colleges and universities are unlike corporations in many crucial respects, but they must achieve a "market focus" in order to survive. The objective of a strategic plan is an attempt by the organization to realize its goals and objectives. (MLW)

Taken together, recent national education reports imply that public resources should be refocused toward students with acceptable in-school skills, technological head starts, and higher than average incomes. Implementation of such policies will result in further educational inequities, disenfranchisement, and discontent among disadvantaged groups.…

An allocation model for teaching and nonteaching staff developed at the University of Utrecht is characterized as highly normative, leading to lump sums to be allocated to academic departments. Details are given regarding the reasons for designing the new model and the process of implementation. (Author/MLW)

Examines the effects of program characteristics, district socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and school resources on the cost of programs for limited English proficient (LEP) students. After outlining these variables, briefly reviews literature on bilingual education costs and presents a study of LEP program spending in downstate…

Compared the amount of resources (time and money) families (N=235) devoted to pursuing interpersonal relationships and income-generating activities in an affluent society (U.S.) to a less affluent but rapidly developing society (Mexico). Results showed that the U.S. sample invested less resources pursuing material payoffs than did the Mexican…

A major task of South Africa's new government in 1994 was to promote racial equity in the state education system. This paper evaluates progress toward this goal using three distinct concepts: equal treatment, equal educational opportunity, and educational adequacy. The authors find that the country has succeeded in establishing racial equity…

The Underrepresented Groups Report provides community colleges with the opportunity to report on initiatives and strategies to increase participation and achievement among individuals with disabilities, minorities, and women. Underrepresented Groups Report production is an important annual statutory responsibility (Public Act 85-283). Each…

The State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative represents a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life for young children and their families, and support them in reaching their full potential. Under the SECCS Initiative, state mother and child health agencies are being asked to apply MCH experience and expertise to a…

The emergence of accelerated learning as a strategy to simultaneously motivate and challenge secondary students offers a prime example of reform driven by the need to better align schools and colleges with economic and social realities. Accelerated learning is a cluster of programs, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,…

This paper addresses the issue of educational budgets for Ontario's Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (Canada). Colleges have supported a 35% increase in enrollment, with a 40% decrease in funding, over the last ten years, while operating costs have increased. In addition, Ontario eliminated the secondary school Ontario Academic Courses…

This environmental scan is designed to assist Ontario's colleges in their strategic planning processes. Ontario's colleges have supported a 35% increase in enrollment, with a 40% decrease in funding, over the last ten years, while operating costs have risen. In addition, Ontario eliminated the secondary school Ontario Academic Courses (OACs),…

This is the third in a series of annual reports that summarize financial trends affecting higher education. State appropriations to higher education reached $60.6 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2001, an increase of 7.0% over FY 2000 in current funds, and a 5.0 constant dollar increase. However, total state general fund appropriations for all…

This article analyzes the outcomes of the implementation of California's Proposition 98, the "Classroom Instructional Accountability and Improvement Act of 1988." The Act was meant to guarantee a minimum level of funding for the state's K-12 schools and community colleges. The latest data, however, reveal that Prop 98 has under-funded…