This report summarizes the proposed budgets for U.S. public elementary and secondary education for fiscal year 1998 and describes the budgets and the major factors that influence those budgets. It is the second in a series of "State Fiscal Briefs" on education finance by the Center for the Study of the States. The report is primarily based on…

This report presents staff recommendations of the Illinois Board of Higher Education concerning budget recommendations for higher education operations and grants for fiscal year 1999. General funds recommendations total $2,207.1 million, an increase of 6.1 percent over 1998 appropriations. Recommendations are also included for locally-held…

This report uses text, tables, and figures to analyze the current costs of attending college for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at four-year public colleges and universities, and is based on data from the College Board's Annual Survey of Colleges. The report also describes trends in tuition and fees for resident undergraduate…

This report reviews special education costs and funding for Wisconsin public school districts, as well as the funding relationship between special education and regular education. In addition, it compares Wisconsin's method of allocating categorical aid to methods that other states use in allocating special education funding, and presents survey…

State mandates for teacher professional development and continuing education, and funding for those mandates are a high profile topic in the North Central region. Examination of specific state requirements for professional development, the relationship among professional development, teacher certification, and continued employment, and direct…

This report describes an array of innovative strategies and practical ideas for helping low-income families with children. There is a window of opportunity for these new strategies as many states have tremendous financial resources available. The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) program rules have been clarified, and families are…

Many Canadian provinces are looking to Alberta for guidance about charter schools. This case study examines the closure of one charter school to identify the obstacles other schools may face. This study uses critical policy analysis and the "politics of interpretation" to examine the political context of educational policy issues. While…

This paper uses data collected from the 50 states in year 2000 by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) to describe how states are holding schools accountable for student performance. The data collection process focused on policies in place during the 1999-2000 school year. Profiles prepared from this data represent the policy…

This annual report details the activities and accomplishments of the Library of Virginia for the 12-month period ending June 30, 1998. Following letters from the Chairman and the State Librarian, the document reports on: "The Common Wealth" exhibition; acquisitions; conservation and preservation; Virginia Center for the Book; dedication of the…

This paper provides information on library services in Wisconsin, with a special emphasis on public library systems. The first section describes how library services are organized and administered, including municipal and county libraries, library systems, and the state Department of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Community…

This dissertation examines performance-based funding in higher education in Alberta (Canada) using a case study that examined government funding of public higher education in that province. Six hypothesized goals for performance-based funding were developed from the literature, and relevant government documents were analyzed in terms of these…

This handbook is a compilation of fiscal procedures and instructions to assist Illinois local education agencies in claiming reimbursement for special education services for the 1998-99 school year. It contains: (1) general instructions for completing the Special Education Pupil Reimbursement form; (2) instructions for filling out sections…

This report presents annual data on the amount of financial assistance available to postsecondary students in the form of grants, loans, and work-study. The data cover virtually all federal aid and most state and institutional assistance. Text and 19 tables and figures explain and display a variety of data for the period 1989-90 to 1999-2000.…

This report presents annual data on the amount of financial assistance available to postsecondary students in the form of grants, loans, and work-study. The data cover virtually all federal aid and most state and institutional assistance; not included in the study is financial aid in the form of indirect subsidies, students' wages, employer-paid…

The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education established the Commission on the Affordability of Higher Education to respond to concerns and challenges posed by the rising cost of attendance at colleges and universities and private career schools. This commission was charged with reviewing pertinent data and making recommendations to the…