This paper argues that the federal government's role in vocational and technical education (VTE) should include a greater emphasis on systematically testing promising strategies and interventions and subjecting them to rigorous evaluations of their effects, implementation, costs, and benefits. Section 1 presents a rationale for rethinking the…

As colleges and universities nationwide anticipate enrolling more than two million new students over the next decade, UC Berkeley is exploring options for serving more students, more cost effectively, in large lecture courses. This research project analyzes economic and pedagogical questions related to the use of on-line lecture and laboratory…

This report examines the cost effectiveness of the Marchus School's 599/1261 Project, one of two programs funded by the State of California, that established an inclusive education program for 17 students with serious emotional disturbances at risk for nonpublic school placements. The project teaches academic, social, and conflict resolution…

It is widely expected that a great deal of scholarly communication will move to an electronic format. This paper speculates about the impact this movement will have on the form of scholarly communication. In order to understand how journals might evolve, the paper begins with a look at the demand and supply for scholarly commutation today, as well…

This book describes in non-technical language how a small school can greatly expand its course offerings by forming a two-way interactive television (I-TV) network with surrounding school districts. I-TV is the linkage of 3 to 10 school districts over fiber optic, coaxial cable, or dedicated copper telephone lines which enables participating…

In light of pressure on Congress to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 per hour, a study looked at the effects such a raise would have on more than 10 million workers, many of them teenagers. The study used quarterly data on the labor force participation rates of teenagers from 1978 through 1999 and other studies to assess the effects of…

This book argues that better management of money is more important than in the past if the nation is to raise the achievement of all students. Chapter 1, "Introduction," describes the book's origins and objectives. Chapter 2, "Setting the Stage," offers the goals of facilitating cost-efficient levels of achievement for all,…

Data envelopment analysis, which is designed to assist in identifying best practice performance in the use of resources among a group of like organizations, was used to estimate the technical and scale efficiency of vocational education and training in 25 New Zealand polytechnics serving a total of 94,201 students. The polytechnics' efficiency was…

Although the nation has been focused on improving its schools for more than a decade, the achievement gap between children from low-income households and those from more affluent households persists. Recognizing the close relationship between education and other supports and services for children, families, and communities, this book is designed…

This report summarizes eight case studies undertaken to evaluate the benefits and costs of mediated instruction and distributed learning. The case studies included: (1) "The Master's Degree in Social Work at Cleveland State University and the University of Akron: A Case Study of the Benefits and Costs of a Joint Degree Program Offered via…

During the 3-year period from 1995 through 1998, the mean mathematical and reading achievement scores of Slippery Rock Area High School's (SRAHS) 11th graders reflected a distinct decline. In the 1995-96 school year, the SRAHS 11th-grade standardized mathematics score was significantly higher than the mean in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as…

Since vocational education and training (VET) have a very special focus on workforce development and economic growth, economic trends and political context are important. One cause of the perceived problem of insufficient growth in the national economy is VET provision quality and/or quantity. Relationship among governmental and government-related…

School construction in the United States dipped below $20 billion in 2003, the first time that had happened in the 21st Century, setting off alarm bells that the school construction boom might be fading. That concern appears to be unfounded. In 2004, school districts in the United States once again completed more than $20 billion worth of…

Universities could benefit by offering more flexible part-time job opportunities such as job-sharing, following an apparent national trend in accommodating social and economic needs. Institutions have many options in scheduling and allocating tasks. Possible benefits include improved employee attitude and productivity. (MSE)

This article presents the goals and objectives of the Home Start Program, a description of the program, evaluation results, dissemination and replication outcomes, and results of a longitudinal research study of Home Start. The article concludes with implications for family policy as inferred from findings regarding Home Start. (DB)