Outlines the federal legislative and regulatory processes concerning student financial aid, with the objective of encouraging participation in modification of the rules by which schools, lenders, servicers, and guaranty agencies must administer Title IV (Higher Education Act) financial aid. Topics discussed include authorization/reauthorization,…

Summarizes highlights of the Government Accounting Standards Board's proposed standard for college and university accounting, known as GASB 35. Topics addressed include enterprise fund financial statements, reporting of state appropriations, segment reporting, effective dates, and infrastructure assets. (MSE)

Provides a brief review of recent education-related issues facing Congress. Discusses attempts to tighten discipline guidelines concerning emotionally disturbed students currently protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, indecent material and the Internet, school prayer, and criticisms directed at the preference for…

Discusses how a complex regulatory system, along with a lack of consensus about the functions served by adoption, produces uncertainty on many basic issues, including distinguishing lawful adoption versus illegal "baby-selling." The author recommends passage of more uniform state adoption laws, describes the 1994 Uniform Adoption Act,…

Despite the premise that charter schools are to be given flexibility in return for being held accountable for their results, few charter schools have actually been closed because of poor academic performance. The author sees the problem as a political one: the differing stakes between charter school families and members of the broader community.…

Recognizing that lasting change is possible when organizations form a partnership, public policy increasingly drives active sharing of resources and mutual commitment to accountability and heightened productivity. Legislation that emphasizes aligning and improving the educational system; supporting the transition from high school to college and…

A facility developed for fitness, physical activity, recreation, or sport is a vital community resource that contributes to the overall health and wellness of that community's citizens. In order to maximize the benefits derived from these facilities, it is imperative that they be accessible to as wide a range of people as possible. The Americans…

Public debate about school choice is often polarized between those who favor and oppose total free markets in education. However, the serious intellectual work on choice focuses on more moderate alternatives that involve a mixture of public and private accountability. A regulated market model of educational accountability would mix government…

College and university presidents are increasingly called upon to make informed choices about technology. The rapidly shifting landscape makes it tough to keep up with change and innovation, let alone stay ahead of the curve. In this article, the authors discuss 10 trends to watch in campus technology. These trends are the following: (1) increased…

The late 1980s' resurgent appeal to public interest standards entails a misunderstanding of the real meaning of "public interest" and, whatever the merits of the critique of the deficiencies during the recent regulatory period, the standard still contains within it the seeds of its own compromise, if not destruction. Even among its…

The numerous forms filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provide information about a variety of topics. Basic licensing information that is available concerns engineering, ownership, and equal employment opportunity. The FCC's broadcast bureau collects information about programing, the ascertainment of community needs, public…

The engineer for a California school district describes the asbestos removal from the ceilings of El Camino High School. Discusses forming a design team, use of consultants, specifications, relations with contractors, and staff notification. (MLF)

The author states that special education and school psychology were established concurrently, with psychologists providing psychometrics to accommodate exceptional children's education; that the conjunction prevailed until passage of P.L. 94-142; and that ensuing educational complexity requires educators to become committed to guided, planned…

A new service, TransferTrack, was developed by the National Student Loan Clearinghouse, that will enable postsecondary educational institutions to identify which of their former students have subsequently re-enrolled at other institutions and the identity of such institutions. This system will allow institutions to comply more easily with the…

A course called "Economics of the Environment," included in the curriculum of New York University, is described as an effort to tackle the issue of the environment at a holistic level. The content of the course covers cosmology, ecology, population, economics, government regulation, philosophy, etc. A reading list is provided. (MLW)