In this article, the authors tackle the question of whether the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has affected student achievement since its enactment in 2002. They present new research that takes on the challenge of distinguishing the law's effects from the myriad other factors at work over the past eight years. The results suggest that its…

Discusses the advantages and limitations of three enrollment projection techniques: (1) preschool census, (2) regression line, and (3) entry-grade to live birth ratio. Four tables illustrate the methods. (MLF)

A research psychologist and education consultant offers school board members some principles for appraising statistics: (1) distinguish between rates and numbers; (2) distinguish between ranks and scores; (3) try to "look through" the pictorial representation of data; (4) double check the data for accuracy; and (5) consider the source of the data.…

Only by accepting responsibility for ferreting out all the accurate relevant information on an issue can board members trust their decisions. Describes the categories of fundamental, unsolicited, and on-demand information and how best to deal with them. (MLF)

Many states are answering the call for public reports on educational progress by developing indicator systems that are designed to show trends within and relationships among school data. A table shows 13 states and the number of indicator components used. Offers advice to school boards considering indicator systems. (MLF)

Some segments of the business community have lost patience with schools that fail to prepare disadvantaged and low-achieving students for work. Critics cite declines in test scores, higher costs, and bloated bureaucracies. Offers 17 ways to improve school performance. (MLF)

Provides statistics of 1988 engineering and engineering technology enrollments surveyed by the Engineering Manpower Commission. Presented are tables showing the 10-year trend, enrollment by curriculum, and enrollment by schools for all students. (YP)

Each year, "Education Vital Signs" takes a look at how demographics, finance, test scores, and other important school-related trends are changing across the United States. Information is presented in state-by-state charts broken down into three areas-achievement, finances, and school and classroom characteristics-across the nation's six regions.…

Survey responses of 400 school district personnel directors reveal the five most used personnel cost cutters and the percent of districts using them: (1) early retirement (47%); (2) fewer district administrators (45%); (3) fewer district support staff (39%); (4) reduced professional leave (37%); and (5) curtailment of overtime (37%). (MLF)

A pullout desk reference of key school statistics, this 10th annual edition provides a review of the year's big stories in education; key indicators of school performance and progress in areas such as test scores and educational technology; school construction and school bond issues; demographic profiles of school board members and school…

School board members can increase their knowledge of the budget process by the following actions: (1) meet with the school business official; (2) assemble school statistics; (3) evaluate each potential cut in its own right; (4) investigate new funding sources; (5) establish a budget adoption calendar; and (6) expect periodic reports from…

The salary paid school business officials is generally related to (1) the region of the country, (2) the district enrollment size, and (3) the expenditure per pupil of the district. Text, charts, and tables illustrate responses from 1,031 reporting school systems. A profile of fringe benefits is presented. (MLF)

Annual desk reference of key education facts is organized as follows: (1) year's education events in review; (2) common measures of education attainment; (3) cost of school construction; (4) demographics of school leadership; (5) gender gap in academic achievement; and (6) key education indicators by region and by state. (MLF)

School board members and administrators are charged with educating a student body that is more diverse than any generation before them. However, top leadership positions remain mostly white and mostly male. Charts display the race and gender of administrators and board members by size of school district. (MLF)

Provides a summary of research and graduate study activities at 227 U.S. and Canadian engineering colleges. Included is information on the number of faculty and students; degree requirements; degree granted; research areas; and research expenditures of each institution. Presents indices by fields of graduate study and areas of research. (YP)