Each state is accountable for the quality of its postsecondary educational program. However, most states have either delegated this responsibility to nongovernmental accrediting agencies or chosen not to exercise their full authority in this area. (MLW)

Developments in Australia's system of higher education and institutional and policy control in the last 20 years are compared with Great Britain's. It is concluded that the current Australian arrangement of authority between state and commonwealth has helped regulate higher education, but some improvements should be made before adaptation in…

Describes structure, aims, methodology, and results of a study investigating the use of school broadcasts in primary and secondary schools in Scotland. Findings indicate that teachers and pupils value broadcasts highly despite problems with provision of equipment and facilities, management of resources, policymaking, and inadequate teacher…

Changing expectations of major groups affected by higher education (employers, consumers of research, young people, nontraditional student groups) are compared with broader political interpretations of community needs (equality, investment, other functions) in the context of experiences of Austria, Sweden, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United…

Provides a summary of overseas students in Australia, from 1962 to 1982 and from 1982 to 1983, including information regarding numbers of students, financing tertiary education, and disciplines affected, with support from a case study. Discusses government policy regarding overseas students and a government review of private overseas student…

Discusss studies (commissioned with the Office of Technology Assessment, Congressional Research Service, and General Accounting Office) which will inform the House Science and Technology Committee members and Congress of various issues related to science policy. Includes a list of questions which indicate the range of issues under consideration.…

The chairman of the Committee on Labs and Centers, National Council on Educational Research, policymaking body for the National Institute of Education (NIE), states that education issues cannot be separated from questions of philosophy. Shared values represent an appropriate and useful utilization of taxpayer money at NIE. (MLF)

Examines changes at the National Science Foundation since Edward Knapp was appointed director, including relations with National Science Board, vacancies in deputy directorship and four assistant directorships, relations with Office of Science and Technology Policy, research grant administration, budget control, policy analysis, programs outside…

A major policy planning effort sponsored by the Law School Admission Council was an invitational conference in November 1983 resulting in much discussion of current law school admissions policies. However, there is still a need for evaluation of admissions policy at many individual schools. (MSE)

A survey of over 50 service organizations, private firms, and government agencies revealed that there is a growing interest in foresight and related activities. Their attempts to predict change, the mechanisms used, costs, information sources, dissemination of results, benefits gained, disadvantages, evaluation procedures, and utilization of such…

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) recently conducted analyses, interviews and a survey for a study designed to identify the most pressing early learning issues facing policymakers. The goal was to hear both from those who are faced with making decisions and from those who are on the ground conducting research and developing programs. To…

This report recounts the process of desegregation of the education service in the London (England) borough of Newham. It shows how inclusion in the borough began and was sustained by an understanding of inclusion as a human rights issue. It charts the steps which brought about the closure of most of the authority's separate special schools and…

Asserting that the welfare reform proposals of the mid-1990s drew attention to the problem of domestic violence among individuals receiving public assistance who are among the poorest of the poor, this report examines what is known from past research on domestic violence that may inform policies related to marriage and child well-being. In…

This paper describes a World Wide Web-based, generic, inter-disciplinary subject called computer-aided policymaking. It has been offered at Melbourne University (Australia) from the beginning of 2001. It has generated some salutary lessons in marketing and pedagogy, but overall it is concluded that Web-based teaching has a rosy future.…

While the benefits of partnerships between school and external groups are many (building social capital, enhancing educational reform, creating stronger communities, increasing academic achievements, and enhancing school performance), creating effective partnerships does not always come easily. One of the first decisions that organizations…