This report defines the social exclusion process by examining long-term unemployment and educational deficiencies in Europe and assessing the scope and effectiveness of the steps taken by the governments concerned to deal with the problem. Chapter I looks at education and prolonged unemployment in six countries that reflect the range of European…

Reform of New Zealand schools has been ongoing since 1988, when the Task Force to Review Education Administration recommended devolution of managerial control, within national guidelines, for each of the country's 2,700 state school boards of trustees with a majority of elected parents' representatives. Reforms instituted since 1989 across all…

The demand for quality child care services from low- and middle-income families continues to increase. Government regulation is one means to ensure a basic threshold of high-quality care; however, political support for effective, comprehensive regulation of child care is declining. For example, few states require licensing staff to possess a…

Eleven states have established autonomous professional standards boards responsible for teacher licensure. Supporters of these boards feel that they create higher standards than state boards of education do, are better able to address complex issues related to teachers and teaching, and are an important statewide component in the nationwide effort…

The "new" economics of education replaces the "old" economics expressed in human capital theory, which viewed education as contributing to individual enhancement and ultimately to economic betterment. The "old" economics foundered on the rising levels of youth unemployment, a result of declining productivity and…

In 1989 and 1990 the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to standing committees in the U.S. Congress identified and explored issues for consideration in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and Title IV programs. Through 18 months of information gathering the Committee uncovered three problem areas. The first problem is…

In almost all states, there is substantial local variation in per pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary education. This results from the mix of state, local, and federal revenues received by most local educational agencies (LEAs), local variations in student needs, cost of providing services, and ability and willingness to raise…

A study examined the Ronald Reagan Administration's rhetoric about the invasion of Grenada to determine its ethical quality and whether the American public could make a fair judgment about the incident based on this rhetoric. Examination of President Reagan's rhetorical efforts revealed numerous violations of democratic ethical standards.…

This report concerns the present status of children in troubled families and the quality of the child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health services they receive as compared to 10 years ago, based upon the findings of the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. In Chapter 1, "Children and Families in Crisis," the…

This paper examines the government's role in financing human capital investments. It first examines why private investments in education, training, and other forms of human capital are likely to fall short of socially desirable levels. It then reviews past trends in public support for human resource investments. Finally, it discusses current…

Recommendations of the Study Group on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are summarized in this report. The report is then reviewed by the National Academy of Education. The recommendations are to: (1) maintain NAEP's continuity; (2) assess the core curriculum; (3) focus on transitional grades (4, 8, and 12) and sample…

This report examines the following three aspects of Hispanic employment: (1) the consequences of leaving school without skills; (2) at-risk Hispanic youth as workers; and (3) the challenge of providing practical, rewarding jobs. Among the conclusions are the following: (1) several categories of at-risk Hispanic youth can receive long-range…

This report comprises papers delivered at a conference assessing the impact of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education 30 years after it was passed in 1954. The following papers (and authors) are included: (1) "Reflections on Brown after Thirty Years" (Linda Brown Smith); (2) "School Integration and the…

In the 20 years since the major Federal program for the disadvantaged began, surprisingly little has changed from its original vision. It is now time to question some of the basic policies of Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act in view of the change in conceptions about the Federal role and the recent state and local…

Reported are findings and recommendations of Delaware's 1986 Governor's Early Childhood Education Study Committee. Most of the committee's work was carried out by five focus groups, each of which investigated one of these topics: (1) the first 60 months of life; (2) child care; (3) 4-year-old pilot programs; (4) a curriculum for 4-year-olds; and…