The 10 precepts offered in this paper in a spirit of tentativeness respond to the questions, "What ought society do when families crumble?" and "What ought government do when children are endangered?" The following ideas are discussed: (1) public policies and government programs should be differentiated according to the social capital accumulation…

An executive summary of a study of early intervention policies for young children at risk of academic failure in state education agencies (SEAs) in the North Central United States is provided. The SEAs selected for the study were located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Policies developed before January, 1989…

The University Council for Educational Administration's (UCEA) response to the National Policy Board's agenda is reviewed in this address. Recommendations for action include: reassessment of the organizational mission; initiation of assertive interaction with critics; and collaboration among all professional groups. Examples of the UCEA's actions…

The argument is made that without proper staffing and support (a condition that occurs as financial pressures on higher education institutions increase) institutional research will not be able to prepare analyses of enough depth and sophistication to constitute a meaningful contribution to policy-making. An outline is provided as to how to…

Focusing on the elements of the federal budget process involved in setting policies and priorities for resource allocations that affect the science and engineering base, this report serves to help facilitate a dialogue within the congressional and executive branches of the United States government on science policy. Emphasis is directed to the…

A policy statement on substance abuse for Virginia higher education is presented by the Council of Higher Education in cooperation with colleges. Colleges and universities are advised to reexamine current policies for dealing with possession, use, manufacture, and distribution of illegal drugs on campus. Colleges should also review policies and…

An important first step in addressing the issue of obtaining a better fit between unemployment insurance (UI) and retraining was taken in 1970 when the federal government enacted a provision permitting workers to enroll in training without denial of benefits due to application of the work test. Little was done, however, to pursue state compliance…

The problem of student abuse of drugs and alcohol demands immediate action at the state level to ensure the taking of suitable action at the local level. It is inappropriate for state agencies to refuse to act, to delegate full authority to local agencies, or to try to take an equivocal position; the most reasonable response appears to be to share…

This discussion of ways to solve the problem of overdue library materials reviews three pertinent articles from the library literature, several studies of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library system, and a 1985 study at a southwestern public library. Attempted solutions are cited, including fines, overdue notices, retrieval methods such as the…

These three papers were delivered as part of a conference panel that was intended to alert advisory councils to the precarious situation of vocational education in the United States today. The first paper, "Crisis Issues in Vocational Education and Training" by Charles R. Doty, makes a case for establishing a program to finance full-time…

A summary is provided of the 1985-86 goals and accomplishments of Maricopa County Community College District's (MCCCD's) Student Assessment Pilot Project, which was conducted to develop a districtwide database of quantitative and qualitative information upon which decisions about policies, programs, and procedures related to assessment,…

Appropriate for secondary school social studies or community programs, this publication considers United States-Soviet conflict. The first of four sections, "US-Soviet Relations at the Crossroads," looks at different American perceptions of the Soviet Union. "Regional Conflicts, Global Ambitions" focuses on Nicaragua as a case…

Many strategy options are open to state education agencies interested in developing statewide programs to support and guide local school improvement efforts. Agencies can focus on instructional improvement, more general school improvement, improvement of the curricular program, or changes in educational structures. Factors influencing which of…

This report describes a research study for the Ontario Ministry of Education that addresses the issues of policy, expenditure levels, and patterns of use related to textbooks, library books, and other classroom-based learning materials in Ontario schools. The research is based on a survey of public and Roman Catholic separate school boards…

Comparative data from three middle schools, all in one large urban school district in the Pacific Northwest, are used to identify criteria for evaluating student discipline policies and to generate theoretical statements of how school administration affects student behavior. An introduction summarizes the study's goals and assumptions and…