Offers suggestions for dealing with training vendors in times of tight budgets and focus on return on investment: identify supplier and purchaser interests, understand alternatives, determine what is fair, and exhaust options. Seven tips for negotiating a better deal are provided. (JOW)

Discusses the benefits of high-performance schools, which enhance the learning environment for students while saving energy, resources, and money. Describes initiatives of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools and the high-performance design of Carleton College in Minnesota. (EV)

Summarizes studies of three preschool education programs. Finds strong evidence that high-quality day care produces long-term outcomes. Cost-benefit analysis of three programs concludes that benefits exceed costs. (Contains 13 references.) (PKP)

Examines the costs and benefits of District Education Foundations (DEFs) in California and New York. Includes the prevalence of DEFs, why they are formed, and the sources and uses of DEF funds. (PKP)

Describes several low-cost practices school administrators use to communicate with parents and the community, such as using school board meetings as a mini-information forum, plugging into the power structure, asking for opinions, participating in a community newsletter, conducting audits of a school climate, encouraging your employees and…

Describes several factors related to investing in educational technology: Total cost of ownership, availability of qualified information technology staff, support and planning, and outside resources. (PKP)

Defines professional development and its key components; reviews previous research on professional development costs; examines problems with current fiscal accounting codes; proposes a framework for capturing professional development costs composed of six elements: teacher time; training and coaching; administration; materials, equipment, and…

Describes the use of a cost-efficiency plan to enhance educational productivity during the second wave of accountability. Describes cost-efficiency plan consisting of five components: goals and objectives, criteria, procedures, outcome, and evaluation. Provides tips for developing the cost-efficiency implementation plan. (Contains 31 references.)…

Discusses issues related to the value of searching to determine whether a work has already been microfilmed prior to filming the work for preservation purposes: (1) advantages of duplicate filming; (2) the integrity of existing master films; and (3) the cost of a replacement film. (seven references) (MES)

Attempts to demystify the process of conducting cost-effectiveness research by defining relevant terms and describing the necessary steps. Two previous cost-effectiveness studies of family-based treatment are briefly described to illustrate cost-analysis procedures that may be used in future family therapy research. (Author)

Discusses the need for computer assisted strategies to search multiple databases. A method is presented in which a pool of predefined searches is set up and a strategy is developed to identify an optimal search path. The application of this method is illustrated using a search carried out in seven databases. (11 references) (CLB)

Using the experience of Ford Motor Company, Oscar Meyer, and IBM, this article shows that companies are enjoying high quality product performance and substantially lower costs by converting from premium white bond computer stock forms to blended bond forms. School administrators are advised to do likewise. (MLH)

Reviews the status of photostats and microfilm at the New York Public Library, including evaluations of the demand for each and the relationship between the two forms during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Reasons why the two forms continue to coexist--even though it was predicted that microfilm would replace photostats--are discussed. (24…

To help educators evaluate the cost effectiveness of their district's reading program, this article shows how New Haven (Connecticut) Public Schools approached five crucial factors: creating an environment conducive to reading, organizing and managing a reading program, staffing the program, selecting and using materials, and fostering reading…

Describes a management training project at GTE Corporation that aimed to improve the quality of every product and service they offered. (JOW)