In assessing the feasibility of a funding formula for Kansas state institutions, information was gathered on similar institutions in other states pertaining to academic program, locale, enrollment, and expenditure patterns. Results were produced that are credible by three tests and respond effectively to some issues concerning the funding process.…

Three traditions in legal scholarship are discussed and disputed: conceptualism, policy analysis, and a functionalist view that rejects both of the others. All are found unpersuasive and possibly harmful, confusing rather than clarifying the issues. (MSE)

A training and development curriculum for scientific research managers is discussed. Four management modules linked to a typical career profile are described: research management, subject matter management, functional program management, and policy and program management. (MSE)

Broad understanding of an institution is fundamental to strategic planning, and information and communication are integral parts of this understanding. An institutional fact book used at Georgia State University is discussed both as a basic information system and as a practical communication vehicle. (MLW)

It is proposed that racial policy and practice only "manage" racism and are based on a fear of alternative policy that might undermine the values or power of dominant groups. Principles suggested to demanage racism include removing practices that only ameliorate, legitimate, or institutionalize the conditions supporting racism. (MSE)

Issues management is defined as a distant early warning system through which colleges and universities can develop strategies to deal with legislative, community, and internal issues before they reach a crisis point. The issues management process at Texas Christian University is described. (MLW)

In view of social processes, politics and the logistics of conducting evaluations, several implicit assumptions of the field challenged by findings on innovation implementation are reviewed. These studies have major implications for evaluation practice, evaluator roles, the use of evaluation results, and the federal role in evaluation. (Author/CM)

Considers issues and relationships involved in the development of a system under which each of Florida's community colleges could define criteria for the selection, evaluation, and retention of personnel. Underscores the value of missions statements for particular positions and the identification of functions and needed skills. Outlines steps in…

Common strategies for making public educational policy are outlined and a variety of indirect and slow as well as direct uses of policy are examined. Some suggestions are provided for policy analysts to make their work more relevant to current policy debates. (MSE)

The second in a series on the independent school curriculum describes multicultural education, suggests questions to ask the entire school community, and contains a bibliography of multicultural curriculum materials. (Author/MLF)

The trend toward competency-based education and competency testing is the work of legislators and politicians, not educators. Some of the latter express serious reservations about it. The minimum competency testing movement is a result of the effort to integrate minorities into the mainstream of society. (JOW)

Declining enrollments in the 1980s, increasing financial pressures, and declining faculty vigor (publications) are publicized, but long-range planning to combat these problems is encountered less frequently. Early retirement is suggested as one response to meeting these challenges. (Author/MLW)

Cross-impact analysis is a recent innovation in the field of futures research. Its main purpose is to allow planning groups to consider the mutual interactive effects of related forecasts, trends, or events in a systematic way so that planning can be more effective. (JN)

Results of an analysis of equity in school finance in Norway and Sweden are presented and their implications for American policy are discussed. Four major types of decisions which have to be made in an equity analysis are identified. (RL)

To set the stage for this theme issue on aid and education in the Third World and on the World Bank's most recent (April 1980) Education Sector Policy Paper, the author presents a brief overview of aid to education and an agenda of major problems which are currently debated. (Author/SJL)