This report identifies some of the different forms that in-school commercialism takes, from outright advertising in school hallways to sponsored educational materials that often contain brand-name plugs and biased messages. It examines the reasons why corporations and other commercial organizations are interested in marketing to kids in the…

This publication presents the findings of a commission that evaluated the current division of responsibilities for financing postsecondary education and makes recommendations for restructuring national policy in this area. Following an executive summary in section I, section II analyzes the policy concerns of college cost, accessibility, and…

This guide discusses the global warming issue and offers a plan to facilitate a decrease in the emissions of the major greenhouse gases in the United States, including those under the control of individual citizens. A letter from the organization's president describes its involvement with the global warming issue. A brief overview presented in the…

This book analyzes how welfare reform can improve the lives of children, based on a study of successful programs that provide services to needy children and their families. The study looked at programs that operated in conjunction with the welfare department before the enactment of the Family Support Act and that operated successfully. Chapter 1…

The proposed deployment of the National Research and Education Network (NREN) offers an unprecedented opportunity for shaping a new expression of civic and pedagogical culture. It can be a positive force for change or a regressive distribution of resources and influence to those already most in possession of them. To prepare for the NREN, the…

This study examines the potential application of educational technology to vocational training and retraining. Its purpose is to assist program planners in the U.S. Department of Education to make more informed decisions concerning the federal role in the use of educational technology. Five questions are addressed. General findings include the…

When President Reagan took office in January 1981, the federal government had a four-fold function in public secondary and elementary education that included financing high-cost programs of overriding national significance and advancing the cause of civil rights throughout the nation. According to Reagan's "new federalism," the role of…

After progress towards achieving major income security goals during the 1960s and 1970s, economic slowdown and public reaction against "the welfare state" have curtailed direct intervention by the federal government for these purposes. Absolute poverty and welfare dependency have increased in the 1980s, especially among the young. Major…

The introduction to this analysis of the federal budget and investment in children in 1988 argues that American children are not physically, educationally, economically, or spiritually safe. The introduction also describes characteristics of the children; specifies a five-point policy agenda for 1988 that emphasizes preventive measures; and…

Because the many distinct native languages and cultural variations of Native Americans create special educational needs for their children, it is important to encourage the active involvement of Indian parents and tribal leaders in planning and implementing Indian education programs. This report provides specific recommendations and practical…

Four federal programs were investigated for inconsistencies in awarding financial aid to college students: the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work-Study Program, and National Direct Student Loan Program. Their methods for determining student need and their legislative histories are…

In recent years, federal mandates in education have become the subject of increasing debate. Adam R. Nelson's "The Elusive Ideal"--a postwar history of federal involvement in the Boston public schools--provides lessons from the past that shed light on the continuing struggles of urban public schools today. This far-reaching analysis…

This report (written in Spanish) of the National Council on Disability (NCD) describes the nation's progress in advancing public policies to increase the inclusion, empowerment, and independence of people with disabilities in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The report covers December 2000 through December 2001. It reviews…

A study examined the experiences of some 1.4 million American defense industry workers, displaced in the wake of the Cold War, as a way of reviewing and evaluating national policies toward worker adjustment and re-employment as they have evolved in the 1990s. The study found that the federal government, through the Department of Labor,…

This report examines the status of Burundi's formal education system, focusing on elementary and secondary schooling. It addresses the issues of access to education and quality of education as well as the role of the state and donors in funding the system. It explains how the protracted civil war in Burundi has paralyzed the education system,…