The status of school finance research and priority tasks to be undertaken in the next round of research are outlined. Both substantive and methodological issues are addressed. Finance-reform relations, methods addressing equity in funding distribution, and neglected areas of study are covered. (TJH)

Reviews the factors that tend to limit youth services budgets in public libraries, and discusses the need to collect relevant data on the use of libraries by children and adolescents to justify financial support of youth services. Strategies for collecting such data are outlined and appropriate resource allocation is discussed. (CLB)

Only four states (New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and California) have specific physical education requirements for all grades. This article argues for eliminating mandatory physical education programs as a cost-effective means of increasing instructional time and allowing more parental choice in determining their children's academic schedule.…

Argues that librarians need to be concerned with cost analysis of library functions and services because, in the allocation of resources, decision makers will favor library managers who demonstrate understanding of the relationships between costs and productive outputs. Factors that should be included in a reliable scheme for cost accounting are…

The advent of microcomputers, laser printers, FAX machines, and desktop publishing has brought about an alarming increase in the amount and variation of printing. Coordination between service units is essential to create a coherent set of print choices, pricing options, and policies for the campus as a whole. (MLW)

Discusses the use of trained paraprofessionals, part-time professional catalogers, and contract cataloging to manage the increased needs for original cataloging as the pool of professional catalogers diminishes. A training program for paraprofessionals is suggested, using professionals as trainers and mentors. (10 references/notes) (EA)

College science education is at risk of becoming mired in the "reform culture" that has long been problematic in precollege science. A single universal solution to student underpreparedness and lack of sustained interest cannot be found, but a departmental level commitment to change and reallocation of resources is necessary to achieve program…

This interview with Research Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago discusses a wide range of education topics, including improving school science, allocation of finite human capital, factors contributing to educational productivity, effect of social obstacles on higher education achievement, use of cooperative learning,…

A group of 17 independent colleges and universities in Virginia combine their long distance telephone traffic and network services for an expected savings of $4.65 million over 3 years. The 12-institution consortium that negotiated the plan prioritized service and system criteria and solicited bids from long distance carriers. (MSE)

Discusses four major conflict areas in contemporary librarianship: service versus teaching, resource allocation, the extent of professional autonomy, and the allocation of duties and responsibilities between professionals and support staff. Topics addressed include conflict as a normal part of organizational life and creative responses to…

The hidden agendas of distance education include (1) inequities in institutional resource allocation; (2) faculty resistance to off-campus teaching; (3) lack of quality control and overreliance on technology; (4) taxpayer ignorance of the efficacy of distance education; and (5) lack of a national agenda, funding priority, and policy leadership.…

Issues in vocational education in Europe are summarized. Varied strategies and emphases are noted including the introduction of more general education, increased emphasis on excellence in technical training, and increased specialization in some disciplines. Obstacles are also seen such as fear of overspecialization, lack of prestige, and…

The issues universities must address in developing technology transfer policies and activities are examined, including definition of academic, financial, and economic objectives; identification of available resources; creation of a favorable institutional environment; appropriate arrangements for research administration and industry liaison; and…

Reports on Bill and Melinda Gates's tour of Alabama, the first state to be wired to the Internet by the nonprofit Gates Library Foundation, and the model for connecting 1000 more libraries this year. Mutual appreciation between Alabama librarians and the Gateses resulted. An interview with Bill Gates focuses on challenges libraries face in…

This article criticizes an article by Jacobson and Mulick (EC 626 909) on system and costs issues in programs for children with autism. It argues that the article uses faulty assumptions, inadequate research findings, and misuses benefit-cost analyses methods to promote early intervention behavior intervention. (Contains references.) (CR)