Although schools are not businesses, demands for accountability have led schools to adopt businesslike practices that may be inimical to education. Unlike businesses, schools do not have unambiguous, superordinate objectives (such as profit). Furthermore, they cannot easily reject umprofitable customers or change their products, cannot restrict…

The State University of New York's (SUNY) Budget System and the Course and Section Analysis (CASA) System, which were developed to ensure accountability at the campus level, are described. Problem areas and resulting inaccurate and potentially misleading information are examined for the 12 state university colleges. The Budget System and CASA…

To describe and analyze the use of private organizations for supervision, training, or assistance of persons referred from criminal justice agencies was the purpose of this study. Procedures were divided into three parts: a review of relevant existing published data and, to the extent possible, ongoing studies; a survey of a national sample of…

The features of two currently popular evaluation models for higher education institutions are described. Each system was designed and developed to respond to what was perceived as different sides of a common problem. Two lines of analysis on costs and outcomes have been developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management (NCHEMS). The…

This discussion of educational trends of interest to school superintendents focuses on three issues: (1) the general decline of birth rates, school enrollments, staff, facilities, and expenditures for instruction; (2) the increase in mandated assessments and programs brought on by declining academic performance and political influences; (3) the…

The purpose of this seminar was to give members of the Canadian Teachers' Federation a better understanding of the educational budgetary process. The proceedings of the seminar included welcoming remarks by Russell D. Mosher followed by two addresses--"The Political Context of Budgeting" by Dr. Peter Atherton and "Resource…

Administrative decision-making encompasses three levels on which increasing legal challenges and liability and their implications need to be considered. At the local level, this may involve violations of procedural due process. A second level concerns state laws and regulations. Line administrators, who frequently make decisions on programs,…

Legal implications of competency-based education (CBE) could be substantial, because the CBE approach would articulate specific standards applicable in employer and institutional actions which are now upheld by the courts for lack of accountability standards. Six problem areas relating to CBE's effect on employment and educational institutions are…

Minimum competency testing, in which passing a uniform test is necessary (but not sufficient) for promotion or graduation, has been carried out in a number of colleges, including the City University of New York (CUNY). Competency programs usually have three basic components: placement testing, remedial instruction, and exit testing. Competency…

The quality of education being offered by institutions of higher education is being questioned. Trends toward educational quality are evident by court cases that are cited; the issue has been school finance. The equal protection clause of the Constitution has been extended to apply to several areas through the idea of "fundamental rights." The…

This paper describes the components of an Instructional Accomplishment Information (IAI) system, discusses general procedures for using the information reports to communicate instructional accomplishments to appropriate audiences, compares IAI information and standardized tests in a public relations context, and notes the role of educational…

The Chancellor's charge to the President sets forth the principles and guidelines each will follow in their respective roles. The Board of Regents of the State of New York sets educational policy and rules for the execution of the policy. The newly elected President of the State University and Commissioner of Education will execute the policy.…

In view of recent public demands for the establishment of minimum competency standards in a number of areas, including oral communication skills, and in view of classroom teachers' frequently inadequate training in speech communication, speech communication teachers have the responsibility of organizing and implementing oral communication…

The first in a series on the relationship between the federal government and research universities, this report asserts that basic research is conducted in the public interest. Viewpoints of the government and the universities on accountability problems and issues are presented. Two types of accountability are considered: scientific, and financial…

Current modes of implementing evaluation and accountability procedures can be examined with respect to their implications for the three aspects of the community psychology approach and the delivery of community mental health services: indirect services (consultation, community education, and prevention), supervision and training of caregivers, and…