Professional behavior during the General Accounting Office's (GAO's) present era of oversight can best be understood by reviewing the audit types that populate village life in the GAO and the repertoire the office uses in conducting program evaluation audits. (Author/LMO)

Critiques attempts to resurrect aspects of positivism and argues that the work of certain post-positivist philosophers (in particular, Toulmin's discussions of the role that purpose plays in rational decisionmaking) provides a more adequate response to the problems associated with relativism. (Author/GC)

Revisionist education histories continue to guide the nature of inquiry within the profession regarding the history of vocational education. The increase of state-level policy analysis in vocational education indicates one trend toward utilizing political histories. Vocational educators should become knowledgeable about the historiographical…

The authors describe the development of a state competency statement for two categories of those entering nursing in future. The task force developing this particular statement was located in Ohio. (CH)

Administrators can avoid legal and personnel problems by ensuring that staff members, students, and parents clearly understand school board policies and procedures. Five steps are essential: adoption of official policy, policy dissemination, policy interpretation, development of handbooks, and action to ensure thorough communication with affected…

Examines 109 rural community level public sector mental health systems involving 314 administrators. Focuses discussion on whether those who manage/work in rural service delivery systems are interested in/utilize data in their own systems to solve managerial concerns. Includes system, state, and federal level policy recommendations. (NEC)

Argues that clear and accepted lines of authority and accountability are necessary for the effective functioning of catholic schools. Considers the roles of bishops, diocesan school boards, and local boards in policy formation. (CBC)

Presents a model of how the results of policy-relevant research are disseminated, using examples related to the dissemination of educational policy research. Also examines how the process works and how it might work better. (Although the recommendations offered are more conceptual than programmatic.) (JN)

Reviews conceptual models used for analyzing the implementation of public policies. Stresses the need of citizen involvement in developing policy strategies aimed at social change. (JDH)

Lists the five criteria used in the USSR for the selection of goals for scientific and technological activity. Identifies several recent programs which reflect new priorities and provides a three-variable model which defines the characteristics of a progressive science policy. (JDH)

This article, in addition to addressing financial gains, focuses on the impact that unions have in other areas of higher education. It is especially concerned with changes in governance structures that can be attributed to the influence of unions. (Author/CT)

The paper describes how the Iowa state education agency has attempted to provide leadership in defining those handicapped students who are behaviorally disordered. Emphasizes the literature base from which initial direction was taken, data-gathering activities initiated by the SEA, and subsequent policy decisions made. (Author/CL)

This paper outlines practical steps to be taken that will include nonprint materials in the mainstream procedures of technical services operations--selection, order records, cataloging, post-cataloging operations, policy and procedure formation, loan period, checkout techniques, inspecting returns. Integration of nonprint materials into the main…

This article systematically analyzes four widely used types of definitions for literacy and points out their usefulness for practitioners and implications for policy and practice. It is implied throughout that the accepted definition of literacy reflects the practitioner's philosophy of learning and influences practice. (Author/CT)

This essay raises concerns in regard to the present state of national and international information policy and discusses communication of scientific and technical information, common sense and the laws of science information and scientific communications, and formulation of science information policy. Five sources are given. (EJS)