This report examines the history of California school construction financing and its past pitfalls, highlights the problems with pre-existing programs, and explores the history of bond initiatives during the past 5 decades. It begins by examining the State Allocation Board and its staff (the Office of Public School Construction) and reviewing the…

Education reform during the last 2 decades has been shaped by the forces of growing public distrust of educational bureaucracies in a climate of rapid political change and growing international competition in the context of a global economy. Major school reforms in four selected industrial countries that differ significantly in terms of…

The academic program represents the major thrust of an institution of higher education toward the achievement of its objectives. An effective structure for academic organization is essential. Within such a structure, clarity of procedure is needed in both the development of academic policies and in the implementation of these policies. The Office…

The principle of fiscal neutrality is that school spending may not depend on the wealth of localities: if local units are to select spending levels, the state must eliminate the influence of the varying wealth of these units by matching grants. (Author/JM)

Successful planning for public education requires taking into account the realities of the political world. Review of the success of the Illinois Board of Higher Education in policy proposals. (KJ)

The American Catholic Church, which has historically supported America's involvement in wars through the concept of just wars, has broken new ground with its Pastoral Letter on War, Armaments, and Peace, which challenges the morality of present defense policy and nuclear war. Reasons for the change in attitude are discussed. (IS)

Two cases illustrate an approach that considers characteristics and needs of each situation separately. One case involved the establishment of a new baccalaureate program; the second involved the remodeling of a master's program, undertaken from outside the program, by committee. (MSE)

A review of major federal education programs indicates that educational interest groups have played a modest role in shaping policy. Typically, these groups have ridden existing political and judicial currents to pass programs, and then have concentrated on maintaining their interests. Future roles are discussed. (PP)

Ideas and experiences to improve the art of influence with state agencies are provided. College presidents and institutional research officers were interviewed. The role of state agencies' future issues that may affect campus and state agency relationships are examined. (MLW)

A statement of concerns and needs in the relationship between universities and industry for biomedical research addresses the issues of research agreements and their terms, patent licensing, university and faculty roles, and establishment of policy and procedures. (MSE)

An undergraduate curriculum in public affairs is proposed that is multidisciplinary, rooted in the liberal arts, and that emphasizes development of conceptual, analytical, and interpersonal skills required for public policymaking and implementation. Questions addressed would include such issues as the definitions of public and national interests.…

Factors to be incorporated into school district policy as a way of improving pedagogical approaches are addressed by a former U.S. Commissioner of Education. Focus is on in-service training or staff development, with recommendations for states, school systems, and schools themselves. (LB)

Examines some of the factors that determine whether and how psychological research will affect public policies regarding children. Stresses the importance of the political climate in influencing research utilization and says that researchers must know when to introduce their findings into the policy making process. (Author/MJL)

Some policy initiatives can be effective with some forms of dropout in some subpopulations. Reduction, rather than elimination of attrition, and transfer as a means of meeting student needs should be considered more seriously. (Author/MSE)

As collection development in each library becomes part of a larger process for regional and national planning of scholarly resources, it is critical that it also becomes part of the larger institutional development process, reflecting scholarly and instructional needs. (Author/MSE)