The state role in educational funding as a major educational policy issue is discussed in this digest. The school finance system debate has been stimulated by property tax issues, changing demographic and economic conditions, emphasis on qualitative improvement, and school restructuring. Implications for local administrators include increased…

The application of rational methods to improve student outcomes in a school district is described. Issues in school reform development are addressed, followed by a description of a restructuring program implemented in the Charleston County (South Carolina) School District to reduce grade retention and the dropout rate. The program was evaluated by…

This guide aims to help rehabilitation facilities develop effective self-evaluation systems to improve quality assurance for supported employment. The guide proposes that quality be measured by emphasizing direct outcomes that meet consumers' specified needs and concerns in terms of decision making, determination of quality, and access to choice.…

This study describes the state of postsecondary assessment in Maryland, identifies cognitive or noncognitive areas assessed, investigates perceptions about the role of the institutional researcher in assessment activities, and analyzes information to guide the formation of an assessment consortium. The paper serves as a case study of the types of…

Eight papers making up Track II of the 1989 conference of the Professional Association for the Management of Information Technology in Higher Education (known as CAUSE, an acronym for the association's former name) are presented in this document. The focus of Track II is on funding and accountability issues, and the papers include: "A…

With the growing demand for accountability by legislators, outcomes assessment has become a much higher institutional priority for community colleges. According to a recent survey, two-thirds of the states have implemented formal assessment initiatives, compared to a very few states only 1 year earlier. Institutions, however, must be careful that…

This report presents background on community college development and discusses four areas of concern. The first area is maintaining access for all students. Trends are toward tightening criteria for attendance. Colleges in some states will be forced to make clearer distinctions among the student groups they serve and for whom they expect to…

Curriculum alignment (CA) refers to the congruence of all the elements of a school's curriculum: curriculum goals; instructional program--what is taught and the materials used; and tests used to judge outcomes. CA can be a very powerful can be a very powerful factor in improving schools. Although further research is needed on CA, there is…

Developed in response to the report, "Beyond Access: A Reassessment of California Community Colleges," this position paper by the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) presents three reform recommendations for community college governance. After offering support for many of the specific proposals of the report, the position paper…

An integrative approach to departmental design proposed for the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of the District of Columbia is described. The proposed curriculum classification framework for faculty assignment consists of three matrices: social behavior and humanities courses, technical courses, and philosophical courses. For the…

This paper examines trends in the use of research and evaluation resources in the Dallas (Texas) Independent School District (DISD) and in other school districts throughout the country. First, the organization and functions of the Department of Research, Evaluation, and Audit of the DISD are presented and compared to those of 7 years ago. Second,…

The document reviews the New York State Education Department's management of state aid for remedial education in the program for serving Pupils with Special Educational Needs (PSEN), the intent of which is to help low-achieving students overcome their disadvantage in learning. Four separate aspects are examined: (1) program intent, evolution, and…

This handbook, which is designed to explain the steps entailed in organizing and administering a volunteer adult literacy program, is organized into three main sections. The following topics are discussed in the opening section on program organization: planning a program calendar; recruiting, training, and establishing the duties of the program…

Assessment of student learning and development has become a national issue. The status of local campus initiatives was considered in a national survey designed to determine (1) the extent to which assessment programs have been developed or are being developed, (2) the objectives and source of initiation, and (3) assessment techniques. Emphasis was…

This guide is intended to assist developers and providers of programs for single parents and homemakers. The first section discusses the special needs of single parents and homemakers, the provisions of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, and Ohio's single parent and homemaker projects. Section 2 covers the the following aspects…