This paper presents an overview of legislative developments and policy debates that occurred in Maryland during 1994-95 and their effects on school finance. These developments include: (1) the election, by a narrow margin, of a new Democratic governor who promised to restore state cuts in educational expenditures; (2) the increase of…

British government policies promoting public-private partnerships enabled the privatization of failing schools. In the U.S., the private sector has drawn upon a political network of well-financed institutions to advance privatized education, most recently among charter schools. Privatization has not yet been very successful, but promises to be…

The impact of 1981 reforms in Chile's higher education system is described and analyzed. The system has been diversified by encouragement of private universities and creation of professional institutes and technical training centers. Funding system changes have produced student loan recovery problems and limited private offerings. Oversupply of…

Influences on the development of international distance education are examined, focusing on the trend toward privatization of higher education and anticipated cooperation between media leaders and universities. Factors in the success of such efforts and the response of critics are considered, and the conclusions drawn by a major Australian report…

The crisis of education is one of the most pressing problems in the world today. Russia's crisis in this sphere has taken on the character of an emergency owing to the unprecedented wholesale cutbacks in budget funding. In this article, the authors discuss the commercialization of Russia's higher education, leading to its degradation and threat to…

Claims that public education in Mexico is in severe crisis. Indicates the wealthy have opted out of public education and the poor are dropping out. Argues that reforms to address poor quality and inequalities are being sidestepped. Proposes a more inclusive educational approaches to provide quality education for all. (CAJ)

Explores the extent to which public policy commitments toward community participation are realized in Malawi. Finds that the main motivation for participation is extractive rather than genuine attempts to encourage local ownership and accountability. Argues that marketization of community participation signifies the entrenchment of individual…

College and university liability for unrelated business income tax (UBIT) is increasing as institutions embrace new income-producing possibilities, such as facility rentals, management contracts, affinity credit cards, exclusivity arrangements for sales on campus, and alumni travel programs. Common tax and legal issues related to these…

Maintains that the continued acceptance of market principles combined with reductions in government services has created a selfish citizenry. In education, this is personified in the activist parent who is interested in his own child's education but indifferent to others. Discusses how civic education can respond to this. (MJP)

Analyzes the Baltimore Public School District's contract with a private for-profit company to manage the instructional programs of nine schools. It shows that the award of the contract was solely a political consideration; no financial experts were involved. Additionally, the program has not improved test scores and is being challenged by the…

A discussion of the economics of higher education in developed and developing countries looks at these issues: increasing costs, spending in comparison with level of development, public subsidization, access, proportion of spending on salaries, higher education as investment, funding sources, cost reduction, and strategies for shifting cost…

Australia's higher education system reform, the booming overseas market, and unmet domestic demand have provided opportunities for private higher education. The growth of private provision, federal and state government responses, and pressures for subsidy and regulation have hastened development of a "peripheral private sector."…

Discusses how Russian vocational-technical education should be funded and proposes four possible scenarios. Recommends a privatization procedure in which an individual or a group of employees of a vocational school would purchase the institution from the government. (CFR)

Charter schools incorporate the focus of magnet schools but often go beyond their academic specialization to more social goals. They can operate at both elementary and secondary levels, although they are always quite small. The greatest difference, however, between charter schools and other public schools is their status as a bridge between public…

This paper uses sarcastic irony, a la Jonathan Swift in "A Modest Proposal," to create a satirical inquiry into the future demise of community colleges. Beginning with a discouraged, present-day community college professor who is visited by a holographic professor from the future, the paper depicts an educational system completely…