Develops an input-output model, with related multipliers, showing how changes in earmarked and discretionary educational funds (whether local, state, or federal) affect all of a state's districts and educational programs. Illustrates the model with Pennsylvania data and relates it to the usual educational finance approach, which uses demand…

It is suggested that, by considering and balancing various economic factors, telecourses can be made cost effective. When social benefits, especially to those who would not otherwise receive an education, are considered, telecourses more than justify their existence. (JN)

A constant partial elasticity of substitution production function for academic achievement is presented and estimated with nonlinear maximum likelihood methods. We find that ability and time devoted to various aspects of the learning process are the most important determinants of students' accomplishments. (Author/CTM)

This article presents a checklist of issues and questions that should be considered when evaluating certification of personnel working in education programs. (JD)

Begins with a discussion of cost and efficiency in education. Presents an empirical model to estimate school-level economies of scale. Applies model to expenditure data set by school from 17 Wyoming school districts. Finds that it costs more per student in a small school than in large schools to achieve similar educational outcomes, thus…

Explores the difficulty of evaluating school effectiveness, distinguishing between school effectiveness and school efficiency. Introduces seven evaluation models, and discusses the difficulty of integrating these models. Develops a dynamic model which reconceptualizes school effectiveness and combines characteristics of the integrated and…

In 2002 the members of the National Technology Leadership Initiative (NTLI) framed seven conclusions relating to handheld computers and ubiquitous computing in schools. While several of the conclusions are laudable efforts to increase research and professional development, the factual and conceptual bases for this document are seriously flawed.…

This report reviews the relationship in England between institutional size and the cost of Level 3 (mainly A-level) provision in three major settings: sixth form colleges (SFCs), general further education colleges (GFECs) and school sixth forms (SSFs). The study models how institutions might behave, given the funding regime and cost structures. It…

In the spring of 2005, the author, the retiring president of EDUCAUSE, was asked to be the keynote speaker at the EDUCAUSE Western Regional Conference. The conference theme was "Winds of Change: Charting the Course for Technology in Challenging Times." What that brought to his mind was the era of the great sailing ships of the eighteenth and…

Today, administrators must assume a different mindset if public schools are to remain viable and functional. Changing populations resulting in heterogeneous communities, the diversity of community values, and the finite resources available to meet the infinite desires of a demanding constituency have created the necessity for political acumen on…

This paper presents findings of a study that determined whether the educational benefits received by four African-American communities in Louisiana were a product of political interaction. The following theoretical frameworks were used: Floyd Hunter's (1953) method for identifying "community influentials," Robert Dahl's (1963) method for…

The economic implications of new technology in public libraries include its cost, the trade-off between costs and benefits, and sources of funds. The cost of, for example, a new terminal, should be subdivided into components and activities so that library expenditures and some resultant output can be clearly identified. In addition, when…

Collection development and management in academic libraries continue to present a considerable challenge, especially in interdisciplinary fields. In order to ascertain patterns of interdisciplinary research, including the patterns of demand for bibliographic resources, this study analyzes the input/output factors that are related to the research…

The California Conservation Corps (CCC), comprised of both residential and non-residential centers, was established in 1977 to conduct useful conservation work and provide youth between the ages of 18 and 23 with valuable work experience. This report uses data from 1983 and 1984 to assess the value of the work done by the CCC. It contains the…

Teacher attitudes (inputs) and classroom practices (processes) were used to predict residual student achievement scores (outputs). A combination of three approaches were used to control for student background characteristics and isolate the effects of school variables: (1) a "residual" measure of achievement; (2) an…