The dilemma of providing for continued development of new academic programs in the context of severe budgetary constraints is examined. Two curricular planning strategies that provide for academic growth with minimum resource proliferation are detailed--development of umbrella academic programs and creation of curricular aggregates. (AF)

This paper argues that program evaluation research should be broadened to deal systematically with the economics of resource use at the level of the individual social service delivery agency. The argument is strengthened by the recognition that input use can be established by the same methods used to measure service delivery. (Author/MV)

Placing the space costs with the operating budget of the college or department enables the administration to see more completely the total cost of the academic program and encourages energy conservation. (Author/MLF)

Rethinks the use of teachers, a school's most expensive and important resource. Four categories could benefit from restructuring: teacher and aide allocation/assignment, teacher compensation, student support services, and general and special program administration. Middletown, New York, actually improved its student:teacher ratio by using its…

Many California school districts are reassuming responsibility for providing special education programs for severely disabled children to avoid large excess cost charge-backs to intermediate service providers. State regulations encourage this practice. Rather than realizing a fiscal gain, such districts increase their per pupil costs and those of…

An economic impact study of Ohio's public universities and medical schools provides documentation that state appropriations yield financial returns higher than virtually any alternative use of state funds, in the form of economic growth and increased opportunity for financial security. Some significant findings of the report are summarized here.…

This case study describes a project to design a performance support system that incorporated an electronic performance tool, computer-based training, and paper-based deliverables that resulted in lower development costs and improved job performance. Highlights include audience analyses, cost analysis, creative resource allocation, and feedback…

Decentralizing educational budgets allows the disbursement of funds aimed at maximizing student development. Three strategies for decentralizing budgets are program budgeting, which eliminates line-item budgeting and allows administrators to address questions regarding the relative value of educational programs; zero-based budgeting, which allows…

Budgets operationalize the strategic planning process, and institutions must have surplus revenue to be able to cope with future operations. There are three approaches to generate surplus revenue: increased revenue, decreased cost, and reallocation of resources. Extending their earlier work, where they established strategic benchmarks for annual…

In recent years, an increasing number of districts have turned to district education foundations (DEF) for added fiscal support. Similar in many ways to university development offices, DEFs are privately operated, nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that solicit funds from individuals and businesses and then distribute these funds to public school…

Trying to analyze developments in the federal budget in 1996 was particularly confusing to most Americans. This book serves as a guide for understanding the ever-changing, complex federal budget process. Chapter 1 explains in detail key terms and concepts. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) budget process. Under the…

A study examined the benefits of investments in the University of Idaho College of Agriculture (UICA) research and extension programs. Data were collected from personal interviews conducted in fiscal year 1986-87 with all principal investigators, co-researchers, and Cooperative Extension Service (CES) subject matter specialists involved in funded…

Suggests that two main areas, where an understanding of the interrelations of political and pedagogical concerns is the key to present debates over the thrust of educational social policy, are those of resource allocation and school system organization. (Author/AM)

The "art" of investment and the relationships between the cash manager and the outside professionals who implement the steps that entail cash management are the subjects of the 11 chapters of this guide to investing school district funds. Chapter 1 describes the role and responsibility of the small school district cash manager. Chapter 2 discusses…

The findings from a series of case studies of nine successful demonstration programs are summarized. The programs, funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission, included child development, vocational education, technology, economic development, and housing. The primary purpose of the case studies was to discover what makes programs successful. A…