In 1987, the Illinois State Board of Education committed itself to adopt and expand policies, procedures, and programs addressing the problems of at-risk children and youth. To address issues involving early intervention, early childhood education, minority achievement, urban education, truancy prevention, and alternative education, the board…

A review of externally mandated outcomes assessment activities and resulting innovations in freshman programs focuses on efforts in Tennessee and Virginia, in which higher education funding is linked to outcomes assessment. Areas examined include registration, advising, student-faculty contact, computer use, basic skills, staff development,…

Survey results from 50 state education agencies and the District of Columbia about secondary school reform show 88 percent have developed an improvement effort. Text and four tables present responses to the following topics: major impetus for the reform effort, funding for support, graduation requirements, testing programs, teacher certification…

Presents 10 guidelines for seeking legislative support and funding for new educational technology in small rural schools. Summarizes suggestions obtained in legislator interviews concerning effective proposals and presentations to legislators. (SV)

Examines how well, after 12 years and 3 billion dollars, North Carolina's counties and their school systems have succeeded in meeting their previously stated needs for school construction. Focuses on the role of state money in helping counties and on the state's efforts to assist the poorest counties in meeting their needs. (Contains 15 figures.)…

Small rural school districts in Missouri with low pupil/teacher ratios generate a small amount of revenue per teacher, pay low teacher salaries, and draw a large amount of salary supplement money per teacher. Suggests that districts reorganize into larger units, thereby increasing teacher pay and reducing the need for teacher salary supplement…

Presents results of a study examining social and demographic characteristics to explain public expenditures on children. Focuses on how the sizes of child and elderly populations relate to welfare and educational spending. Concludes that states with larger child populations spend less per child than states with smaller numbers of children. (DK)

Increasingly, students and states are seeing community colleges as a cheaper, more accessible route to bachelor's degrees, by having four-year students spend two years in a community college or converting community colleges to four-year programs. Debate focuses on availability of appropriate resources, duplication of effort, and dilution of degree…

Discusses one example of successful school restructuring by means of an examination of California's Bowling Green Elementary School. Key contributing elements discussed are having a low student-to-teacher ratio; using integrated thematic instruction; developing an efficacy approach; mastering adopted standards; and developing site-based decision…

Compares Adult Basic Education (ABE) in North Carolina where ABE is administered by community colleges and Virginia where ABE is delivered by the public school system. Reports differences in student recruitment, class scheduling, availability of facilities, commitment of institutional leadership, and program funding. Makes recommendations. (DMM)

Discusses the services that resource and referral agencies and early childhood programs in centers and family child care homes can provide to meet the health and developmental needs of young children. Describes the ways in which reimbursement can be obtained from Medicaid when the services are provided for eligible children and families. (BB)

The School Building Authority of West Virginia was initiated to provide funds to modernize public school facilities, identify and address the greatest facility needs, and provide a degree of equity through competitively funded projects based on need. (MLF)

Describes a study comparing the perceptions of Virginia state senators and community college presidents regarding the importance of state funding of 31 activities. Senators and presidents agreed on 13 goal areas as important recipients of state funding, including the provision of associate degree programs, entry-level vocational training, and…

An annual survey of higher-education leaders found most believe cuts will be smaller next year than in recent years. In some states, the largest increase requests were by community college systems. Changes in tuition-setting policy, governance, and financial aid are also common issues. (MSE)

Addresses the historical origins of the State University of New York and its system of community colleges, particularly its contemporary structure and nature in the areas of funding, governance, faculty, students, and programs. Discusses current issues such as (1) statewide budget problems; (2) the underprepared student; (3) distance learning; and…