Deregulation in South Carolina schools was designed to give schools flexibility in meeting state and federal guidelines and student achievement goals. A survey of principals and faculty of deregulated schools examined how they perceived themselves as change agents. A questionnaire was sent to each principal and one faculty member in each of the…

When New Jersey passed the Quality Education Act to equalize expenditures between rich and poor school districts, it added a level of regulatory oversight to the "special needs districts," the 30 poorest districts in the state. This paper describes that oversight system and the additional paperwork burdens it created for those districts.…

The Wyoming Community College Commission was established in 1951 as a result of a legislative act to extend the offering of higher education beyond the secondary level in qualified school districts. Seven community colleges were created by the Commission, resulting in a system that presently continues to serve thousands of citizens and their…

This document contains an agreement made in December 1997 between the State of Minnesota/Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the Minnesota Community College Faculty Association. The contract's purpose was to promote effective relations between the two entities, as well as to (1) further quality education by maintaining a high standard of…

Kentucky has witnessed many changes in educational administration. An assessment of those changes, with a focus on school boards, was done. School boards are not efficient bodies and this is not a problem. If efficiency was the top concern, then minimizing time and costs would be dominant and schools would suffer. School boards are not…

This guide to special education funding in Alberta (Canada) describes the types of special education funding available, explains how to apply for special education funding, and discusses how applications for special education funding are monitored. An overview presents a chart of special education funding for 1997/1998 that shows funding and rates…

Schools facing deteriorating conditions, high costs, and outdated building designs are tapping into the special capabilities of information technology to address the learning needs of their students. This book guides school leaders through school facility planning and technology systems planning, describing the importance of long-range planning…

This paper considers implications of the findings of the Texas Performance Review concerning mental retardation services, in light of decreasing numbers of students at state schools and budgetary restraints on major investments in both institutional operations and community service programs. The paper concludes that Texas should consider closing…

Higher salaries and improved working conditions have combined to make teaching a more attractive profession and to reduce teacher turnover rates. At the same time, however, the teaching work force has aged and faces problems in retirement programs. All levels of government should work with interested groups to find solutions to six major problems…

Exemplary approaches to school-based budgeting are examined in this paper. Interviews were conducted with district staff involved in implementing school-based budget reforms in five school districts--Chicago, Dade County (Florida), Detroit, Los Angeles, and Edmonton (Canada)--and with state-level staff in California, Florida, Kentucky, and…

Designed to guide community college administrators in developing an effective state government relations program, this paper reviews recent literature, documents, and journal articles that: (1) present calls for action and provide a rationale for developing a legislative relations program; (2) provide guidelines and checklists outlining the steps…

Since the 1960s, crime and violence have been increasing in schools. This document focuses on crime involving physical harm or the threat of physical harm to a student or staff member on school grounds or at school events. Chapter 1 reviews past trends in school violence, describes the current extent of the problem, and explores some of its…

In 1988, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) undertook an 18-month effort to discover strategies that would increase the number of minority teachers in the nation's classrooms. Representatives from 22 education policy and research organizations formed the Alliance of Leaders for Minority Teachers to share views and information. In…

This report explores state level governance as it is currently practiced in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. After a brief introduction, section II's attention to the evolution of state boards offers a historical perspective of state intervention in educational policy-making, a review of major questions concerning the…

Achieving a state education finance program that is fair to students, taxpayers, teachers, and school districts is complicated by varying student needs and different property tax rates and school expenses among districts. Attempts at equitable allocation of state aid funds and other educational resources should be guided by the principles of…