A model for evaluating the sustainability of educational reform involves examining the knowledge base, social and economic factors, underlying philosophy, and political aspects of the reform proposal; estimating the extensiveness and impact of the proposal on the educational system; and examining areas affected by reform such as curriculum and…

Following the deaths of two elementary school students in bus-related accidents in 1992, the Coroner of Quebec held extensive hearings investigating school bus safety and accident prevention. A subsequent report addressed responsibilities of government and school board officials to correct deficiencies in school bus services and provided…

The Niagara Falls Secondary School Family Learning Program targets young disadvantaged parents and their preschool children for family literacy development that focuses on parent-child literacy and social interaction. Guidelines for program development include establishing partnerships based on a shared vision of family literacy, developing plans…

Research on colleges in Indiana is used to examine how federal, state, private, and institutional financial aid programs and practices interact with each other to determine the total amount of gift-aid a student receives, and how the relationships can dilute or enhance a program's implicit targeting policies. Several case scenarios are used as…

An institutional model to measure effect of student financial aid on matriculation and persistence was found to be both workable and potentially useful for college planning. It examines first-time attendance, within-year persistence, and year-to-year persistence of the entering class at an urban, public university, factoring in student background,…

Because so many Americans can afford to save for children's college costs but do not, it is proposed that employers take a more active role in promoting college financial planning. Possible solutions include company-sponsored contributory accounts, educational savings plans; payroll deduction plans, educational annuity programs, subsidized or…

The University of Oregon's financial aid director describes the success of the Federal Direct Student Loan program in its first year at the institution. No significant program disadvantages were experienced, and its advantages included flexibility of administration, ease of data management with the servicer, decrease in office workload, and…

A study investigated the influence of tuition charges and financial aid packaging to adult undergraduate students on within-year persistence. Results indicated that adult undergraduates are more likely to be from disadvantaged backgrounds and more responsive to tuition rate than traditional college-age students, and that adults enrolled in public…

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a complex form completed annually by millions of postsecondary students applying for federal financial aid. Errors frequently require resubmission. It is suggested that cognitive psychology principles that help describe how people understand text and complete forms be applied to a redesigned…

Historical data concerning the federal Guaranteed Student Loan Program/Stafford Student Loan Program/Family Education Loan Program are presented, tracing default rates since 1980 and the population distributions for borrowers by institution type (overall, collegiate, noncollegiate, public or private, two- or four-year, proprietary). Individual…

Analysis of the evolution of the regulatory process in federal student aid looks at the ability of stakeholders to influence results and concerns about overregulation. Alternative regulatory approaches, considered less burdensome, are examined, and the appropriateness of using student financial aid policy to achieve social and political objectives…

Pricing and financial aid issues affecting research universities, particularly private universities, are examined, including underpricing of services, decentralization, and diversification of higher education in the United States. The growth of federal regulation is also considered, especially the State Postsecondary Review Entities (SPREs)…

An analysis of increases in federal regulation of student financial aid since 1959 looks at changes in both volume and substance of the regulations, and the costs of implementing them. Federal initiatives to form partnerships with institutions in managing student aid are noted, including quality assurance efforts and innovative experiments in…

Department of Education regulations and initiatives designed to address problems of fraud, abuse, and loan default in federal student aid programs are examined. The scope and intrusiveness of some recent regulations are criticized, and unintended effects are noted, including increased administrative burdens on all institutions. (Author/MSE)

Compares the ways teaching material is designed in two European distance universities, the German FernUniversitaet (a classical university operating at a distance) and the Dutch Open Universiteit (an open/flexible institution). Outlines the pedagogical and methodological issues involved and shows how institutional constraints have affected…