Examines neoliberal educational policies in England and New Zealand related to school autonomy, school choice, private sector involvement, privatization, and accountability mechanisms. Argues that the rhetoric of neoliberal schooling policies is far removed from their reality, as governments confront the classic tension between fiscal imperatives…

Argues that, with the trend toward viewing reference librarians as information brokers and the reification and privatization of information, the traditional goals of libraries and librarianship are being lost, i.e., providing free and open access to books and information to promote informed democracy and the public good. (63 references) (EAM)

Explores factors that have contributed to recent interest in the privatization of public education and reframes questions about the crisis in public education. The privatization issue has too often been seen as a technical matter, but it should not be pursued without full consideration of the social costs and benefits. (SLD)

The recent establishment of charter schools in Alberta (Canada) has prompted allegations of a radical change towards privatization by the Progressive Conservative (PC) government. However, policy decisions since the 1970s demonstrate that the PC government has consistently supported private alternatives to public education; charter schools extend…

Traces policy trends in Scottish vocational education and training (VET) over the past 20 years. Describes the current institutional framework for VET, which focuses on employer-oriented "local enterprise companies." Suggests that the complexity and decentralization of the VET system impedes evolution of a coherent VET strategy and that…

Analyzes how a flourishing market economy has affected China's social policy and educational development, focusing on "marketization" and "privatization" in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province. The Delta's expansion of multiple financial sources for education and huge demand for professional and technical education have…

A retrospective study examined how authority to confer Bachelor of Education degrees was extended to private colleges in Alberta in 1995. Sources of the policy change included local political pressures and international pressures for neoliberalization of public policy. Opposition from professional educators and other stakeholders has implications…

Supporters of school-choice proposals contend that private-school choice continues to gain momentum at the state and local levels. This publication provides an overview of trends in the privatization of school choice, including privately financed voucher programs, contractual arrangements with the private sector, and for-profit private school…

As of September 1995, a total of 19 states had passed charter school legislation and 226 charter schools were operating. This document presents an overview of state legislation and describes the status of charter schools in operation in the United States. Chapter 1 provides background information on charter schools--a discussion of trends leading…

It is likely that most school districts will need to think through the possibilities of privatizing one or more functions. This book was written to help all concerned parties understand the privatization debate. No political or philosophical conclusions about the feasibility of privatization were made. Chapter 1 relates the experience of the…

Several themes are prevalent in the literature on college administration. Motivating staff, planning, conflict management, ethics, power and influence, communication, strategy and decision making, vision, and financial issues are consistently discussed. However, common administrative processes such as planning, morale, and administrative climate…

A review of eight new books suggests that increased privatization of education in Europe is inevitable, particularly for higher education. Twelve data tables provide statistics for 29 European countries on enrollment ratios, private school enrollments, vocational education, engineering and science students, public expenditures on education, and…

Criticizes a World Bank policy paper that views private-industry provision of vocational education as an ideal toward which all countries should move, while ignoring the need for relativism in policy formation. Discusses flexibility in delivery of training, importance of general education, relevance of prevocational education, and equity issues.…

Many school boards have considered searching for their next superintendent in the ranks of the business community. Both Minneapolis (Minnesota) and Milwaukee (Wisconsin) have businesspeople as superintendents. Contains a number of comments concerning advantages a businessperson can bring to the superintendency, as opposed to the need for proper…

Although making profits from public education is not new, what is new is the recent development of corporate interest in taking over the organization and management of public education specifically for profit-making purposes. The study reported in this paper focuses on the intrusion of "big business" into an educational arena that…