This brief describes the challenges facing urban school boards, reviews the governance alternatives being tried in various cities, and highlights some related considerations. The challenges school boards face vary, but some themes are common across urban areas: (1) an ill-defined role can impair effectiveness; (2) competing political interests can…

This paper reviews the basic legal relationships and duties that affect higher education facility management with special emphasis on the relationships with students, faculty, and staff in both public and private colleges and universities. An introduction briefly reviews the development of higher education law beginning with a landmark case in…

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) established 2 flexibility demonstration programs--State- and Local-Flex--that allow up to 7 states and 80 school districts to redirect up to 100 percent of certain NCLBA programs funds. The General Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to determine factors that affect states' and districts' decisions about whether…

The operation of computerized management information systems (MISs) for adult basic education in 27 states and 21 local programs was the focus of a research study. During 1991 and 1992, state adult education directors and MIS specialists were interviewed by telephone regarding MIS organization and content; local personnel were interviewed…

This document reviews how performance indicators are currently being used in several Commonwealth countries the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, and identifies some of the issues associated with performance indicator development and application. It also examines whether there are any agreed upon "key", or common, indicators that…

Education of the "scholar-teacher" shaped the vision of the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at Macquarie University in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, as teacher education was made the shared responsibility of the School of Education and all of the University's other schools in 1967. Change over the past 25 years is evident in 3 major…

With the exception of one essay, the content of this book is a selection of articles from past issues of "Prospects," UNESCO's quarterly review of education. Most of the articles were written in the late 1980s or early 1990s. They identify trends in educational planning and management and explain why planning is more necessary than ever. Following…

This collection of statements focuses on Title 2 of S. 1067, which calls for the National Science Foundation to establish a National Research and Education Network (NREN) by 1996. This is one of several titles in a bill to provide for a coordinated federal research program to ensure continued U.S. leadership in high performance computing. The…

This study on collegiate middle managers examines: the effects of federal compliance requirements on collegiate administrators; the cause of growth, elaboration, and differentiation in middle-level collegiate administration; the functions, status, roles, and values of mid-level administrators; and the role of national occupational associations for…

Executive Order 13096 seeks to improve the educational achievement and academic progress of American Indian and Alaska Native students. Section F of the Order requires the U.S. Department of Education to develop and implement a research agenda for that purpose. Among other things, the research agenda is to include an evaluation of the role of…

Prepared in response to a request from the Iowa state General Assembly, this report outlines major issues facing the state's community colleges and provides recommendations for increasing effectiveness and accountability. Following introductory materials, the report describes the five major guiding principals in the development of Iowa's community…

The status of adult education in Swaziland was examined. Data were collected through a survey of 100 practitioners at 20 institutions that elicited 66 usable responses (response rate, 66%), consultative meetings with leading scholars in adult education inside and outside Swaziland, and a review of pertinent documents and literature. Key findings…

This collection of 26 essays examines the historical position of Harvard University as one of the nation's most influential institutions. Included are: (1) "Introducing Harvard: A Social, Philosophical, and Political Profile" (John Trumpbour); (2) "How Harvard is Ruled: Administration and Governance at the Corporate University"…

In examining the source of public distrust for higher education and faculty work, this volume reviews empirical data concerning questions which lie at the core of the roles of faculty in academe, in the economy, and the larger society. Chapter 1 describes the background in changing social attitudes and economic factors. Chapter 2 looks at faculty…

The 50 states are responsible for public systems of higher education, and accommodate 80 percent of the total enrollment. With growth and large expenditures of state funds in recent years came increasing regulation of higher education. In many instances institutional autonomy has been threatened by state action. Six recommendations are made for…