Counselors must be aware of the political forces that affect their work and develop a sense of political acumen in dealing with these forces. Effective approaches for counselors to employ in dealing with school boards are personal contact, having needs assessment information available, and presenting options. (Author)

As long as vocational education is presented as an investment in the future, it must stand the test of economic evaluation. Research on its economic effectiveness is essential to more informed public policy and support for vocational programs. (SK)

Information use in senior-level university decision-making councils involves organizational, interpersonal, and individual processes. Leadership styles emphasizing a group-process team approach to decision making are best for utilizing information to form policy. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc. 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104,…

Three forms of coordination (a coordinating council for institutions having separate boards, a board of regents for institutions retaining separate boards, and a single board for a system of universities) in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana are examined to determine the impact of coordination on institutional autonomy. (MLW)

The effects of societal and professional forces on the future of graduate dental education are examined. Some factors analyzed include: professional developments, paraprofessional changes, public initiatives, and government policy and legislation. The creation of a balanced and flexible dental care delivery system is proposed. (Author/MLW)

Identifies trends and their implications in library-related developments such as conglomeration in publishing; growth of right-fundamentalist influence in radio, television, and book industries; technological developments; and increasing variety of media (e.g. videodiscs) to be managed by libraries. (SW)

Examines the climate in non-rural America that is and has been in part responsible for much of the suffering in rural areas. Shows how some specific rural inequities stem from federal policies. Appraises the Carter administration's response to rural problems. Suggests possible solutions. (SB)

Officers of school administrative associations (who were themselves principals) wanted principals to have more responsibility for planning, coordinating, and evaluating special education programs. The study was based on responses to a matrix defining 27 operational and decision-making responsibilities in special education, as real or ideal. (GDC)

In the process of selecting materials for school collections, the media supervisor functions as a manager: planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. (Author)

With a view of academic health centers (AHC) as unique organizations meriting investigation, key changes that have shaped AHCs, various modes of AHC organization and governance, and factors that make AHC policymaking so complex are discussed. Also examined are models and methods for analyzing AHC decision making. (Author/JMD)

Beginning with an historical review of public school role in the mediation of social and ethnocultural class conflicts, political problems for curriculum policy makers are discussed. These problems are created by the simultaneous needs for the curriculum to maintain and change society. (CP)

When teachers strike, most people assume their grievance is money. But a recent survey of 18 Montana schools reveals that much teacher discontent stems from their lack of involvement in site-level decision making. A Faculty Senate Policy Committee is proposed to facilitate teacher participation in policy formulation. (SJL)

Some observations on current educational policy analysis are made by Stephen K. Bailey. Discussion is centered on the federal bureaucracy; the need for communication between the educational community and the government; and current trends in federal policy decisions. (MH)

Using the Claremont Group's four-stage model of educational decision making, the author analyzes trends in California toward state control of education. He discusses the implications for educators of increasing policy control by politicians and legislators. (SJL)

Defines policy, discusses the impact of internal and external environments on educational policy, details the advantage of viewing school systems from the organizational perspective, outlines some implications of board-formulated policies, and presents some generalizations for policy-making. (Author/IRT)