A study examined the amount of public and private resources currently being used to support the Corporation for National and Community Services' AmeriCorps*USA program. Information was collected through meetings with corporation officials; examination of legislation establishing the Corporation and national service programs; review of corporation…

This report presents: (1) a review of the evidence that vaccine cost has prevented children from being immunized on time; (2) an evaluation of the implementation of the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program, including whether this program, as implemented, is likely to meet the needs of the under-immunized children; and (3) some options for improving…

The Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program was evaluated from the standpoint of its impact on three groups: VISTA volunteers, communities served by VISTA sponsors, and sponsoring organizations to which VISTA volunteers are assigned. Survey questionnaires were sent to 1,250 of the 3,400 VISTA volunteers currently in service, 494 current…

Hawaii's executive branch initiated on February 1, 1990, a large-scale plan to relieve the problem of "latch key children" with an afterschool supervised program. Since the legislature had not appropriated funds to establish the program, the governor chose to finance it from monies paid by the United States as compensation for federally…

Based mainly on interviews conducted at 14 federal agencies that had completed or were involved in software conversion projects, this publication provides guidelines for the entire process of software conversion. This is defined as the transformation, without functional change, of computer programs or data elements to permit their use on a…

Intended for principals, teachers, parents, and others, this research brief traces the historical development of the kindergarten in the United States, summarizes recent reviews of the kindergarten scheduling literature, and presents the findings of nearly 50 studies conducted to assess the relative effects of kindergarten scheduling on student…

The State of Alaska spends 75% of its operating revenues on transfer payments to individuals and local governments and on salaries and benefits of state workers. By the year 2000, dwindling petroleum revenues will result in a projected $1 billion gap between state income and spending, but inflation and growing population could widen that gap to…

This congressional hearing on the school lunch program dealt with the question of what would happen in those school districts that wanted to exercise an option to either take cash in lieu of commodities from the Department of Agriculture, or commodity letters of credit. Prepared statements are presented from Gene Miller, school food service…

In this discussion on the feasibility of establishing a "National" curriculum for physical education, it is pointed out that it would first be necessary to reach an agreement on the overall goals or objectives of physical education. Consensus would have to be obtained on the primary focus of such a curriculum and a realistic set of desired…

This briefing report provides an evaluation of Department of Defense (DOD) plans to terminate the new GI Bill and revert to the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). Comments are made regarding the positions of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the military service. These findings are summarized: estimated cost to…

To update a 1977 study of indirect cost rates in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions, the Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) contacted several member libraries and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) in 1980 for current information and documents. A number of ARL members…

This booklet examines the cost implications of reward-for-performance plans for teacher compensation. The growing acceptance of plans that recognize effective teaching with financial or other rewards is noted in the introduction, and some of the arguments against such plans are expressed. The first chapter reviews the origins and aims of the…

A Congressional staff study was undertaken to analyze the Literacy Management Information Project Report (LMIPR), released by the U.S. Department of Education in May 1986, and to determine whether its findings were valid. The LMIPR found that there are 79 literacy-related programs administered by 14 federal agencies and that $347.6 million was…

States' policies vary widely on paying friends and family rather than home care agencies to care for the elderly. This analysis explored two state programs which exemplify different payment options: Michigan, which pays clients' informal caregivers, and Illinois, which generally pays agencies to provide services. It asked how different payment…

The benefits, costs, and risks of prepaid tuition and state saving incentive plans to help families pay the cost of a postsecondary education are examined. After discussing why plans have been proposed, financing strategies and savings instruments currently available to families are reviewed. Three types of state plans have emerged: prepaid…