Characteristics of evaluative studies used by California state legislators are discussed: specificity in addressing particular policy decisions; factors which contribute to or hinder the accomplishment of educational objectives; balanced studies with a range of indicators; and attention to local concerns, and to fiscal and legal issues. (MH)

On October 23, 1996, members of the Congressional Black Caucus visited schools in several cities and spoke to students, to garner support for federal funding of education. The event was held in conjunction with the National Commission for African American Education, in response to recent proposals to eliminate the Education Department and reduce…

Advocates role playing for teaching a unit on the legislative branch of government. Students were divided into political parties, sat on committees, and produced legislation. Concludes that experiencing the governmental process enhances citizen participation. (GG)

Higher education lobbyists in Washington work as liaisons between their institutions and the federal government. The experiences of several lobbyists are described. Lobbying is seen as a game of knowing the people who can help and showing the legislators how a side of an issue benefits them. (MLW)

Each level of higher education funding decision making--governor, legislature, state coordinating agency, system boards, and campus administration--is examined and the decision alternatives available to each are discussed. It is found that campuses have more freedom and capability than higher levels to apply reductions differentially rather than…

Describes the organization and purpose of the National and World Affairs Division of the National University Extension Association (NUEA) and discusses the need for public policy programing in continuing education. Proposes debate in the NUEA and its member organizations on the subject of members' role in such a policy. (MF)

A survey to obtain a sample of representative opinions on tests and testing in the public schools is reported. Three categories of respondents (teacher union representatives, teacher trainers, legislators) indicate that teachers' attitudes toward standardized tests should be changed. (MLW)

Policymakers in many states are critical of college faculty salaries based on their ill-informed perceptions of faculty workload and perquisites, seldom acknowledging the real reason for rising costs in higher education, its rapid expansion. Faculty and administrators must work together to devise persuasive answers to hostile inquiries by critics…

Criticizes legislation sponsored by Senator Slade Gorton and other Republican members of Congress that would weaken tribal sovereignty and the federal government's trust responsibility. Republican proposals have included limiting tribal jurisdiction of reservation lands, drastically reducing Bureau of Indian Affairs spending, taxing the Indian…

Reports on the activities of the Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) during 1991. Topics discussed include legislative activities; congressional awards; continuing education opportunities; the annual conference; book awards; and election of officers. (LRW)

Examines the organizational and political context of decisions directly related to the fate of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) from 1980 to 1992. This decision-making environment is then analyzed in terms of political values, structures, and strategies. (Contains 59 references.) (Author/KRN)

Fearing security problems, a congressional committee on Chinese espionage recommends that foreign students and other foreign nationals be barred from using supercomputers at national laboratories unless they first obtain export licenses from the federal government. University officials dispute the data on which the report is based and find the…

Interviews with 21 state legislators, leading technology activists in their states, reveal that policymakers are feeling pressured to ensure that all education sectors have access to the best in educational technology and are attempting to reconcile the costs of such innovation with the educational benefits. Findings of the study, including…

Biographical research and life stories have contributed to highlighting individual women's lives. While it is always difficult to measure their impact on societal development and to isolate the contribution of their education to this effect, this may more easily be done when women are in the forefront of developments, acting as pioneers for new…

C-SPAN is a non-profit public service television network created by the U.S. cable television industry to provide viewers live gavel-to-gavel access to the proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and to other forums where public policy is discussed, debated, and decided. This guide presents a brief history of how…