This report discusses diverse economic issues involved in educational reforms aimed at improving economic growth. The focus is on elementary and secondary education in the southeastern United States. After a general overview of the economics of educational reform, section I discusses the issues involved in modeling and estimating the linkages…

This short paper discusses the advantages of and outlines key design issues for creating charter districts. The design issues are divided into three categories representing the three central elements of the environment the districts are trying to create for their schools: the opportunity to perform, incentives to perform, and capacity to perform.…

Examines present lack of judicial restraint by analyzing "Missouri v. Jenkins," a case upholding a court-ordered tax increase to fund school desegregation. Maintains that elected representatives placate interest groups and abdicate power in favor of the courts when political decisions are unpopular. Questions the implications for future…

This paper explores the impact of school district organizational structure on the productivity of educational systems and describes the implementation in New York State of a collaborative study process involving school district reorganization. The case for organizing schools or districts into larger units is typically made on either efficiency or…

A review of papers produced by the United States-Australia Education Policy Project identifies implications of Australia's educational policies and structures for U.S. educational policy in the areas of equality, diversity, professional development, and control or governance. In educational equality the author examines, first, fiscal equity,…

The past, present, and future of vocational education and training (VET) in Belgium were examined. The examination focused on the following topics: Belgium's education system; VET for young people; continuing vocational training; financing of continuing VET; qualitative aspects of VET; training of trainers; and trends and prospects. The following…

The extent to which vocational education and training (VET) policy is nurturing lifelong learning in Sweden was examined through a review of recent policy documents issued by various Swedish government agencies and data from comparative studies compiled by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Adult…

The state of Australian online education and training practices was examined through a literature review and interviews. Special attention was paid to the following aspects of online vocational and technical education (VET) and technical and further education (TAFE): current online implementations; online teaching strategies; issues for online…

Trends that will influence Kentucky's future were examined along with policy options for responding to those trends. According to the analysis, the effects of the new economy on Kentucky has been mixed. Although many Kentuckians have benefited from the new economy, the state's least educated and poorest residents are falling further behind the…

The evolution of Germany's dual apprenticeship system and the challenges now facing it were reviewed. The following topics were considered: (1) the progression from craft guilds to vocational training; (2) the history of Germany's dual apprenticeship system from its organization in the 1970s; (4) apprenticeship in the dual system; (3) Germany's…

As in the past, young people in Greece generally consider vocational education and training (VET) a last resort despite the state's continued efforts to promote VET as an option of equal standing and despite the research data showing that VET graduates face fewer difficulties in finding work than general education graduates do. In the past 10…

The role of Ohio's community and technical colleges in educating low-wage workers was examined. Ohio's community and technical colleges were shown to be uniquely positioned to serve as bridges to growth and opportunity by helping the state and its workers make the transition to a knowledge-based economy and help low-wage workers gain the footing…

Presents statistics on a variety of subjects related to blacks in higher education: (1) survey statistics from the 25 highest-ranked national colleges and universities; (2) effects of actions of the mass media; (3) influence of intact families on black higher education; (4) how affirmative action encourages blacks to attend college; and (5) black…

Adult learning in Norway was examined in a thematic review that focused on the following areas: the contexts of adult learning; the participants in, providers of, and returns from adult learning; issues and problems facing adult learning; and good practices. The following are among the main findings of the review: (1) adult learning has a long…