On any given day, higher education is represented in Washington, by not only lobbyists, but also students, administrators, experts on a variety of related issues, and professors turned legislators. A typical day finds these groups in varied activities directed at influencing policy. The American Council on Education is at the center of higher…

It is essential for a campus to designate a representative to develop a program for both disseminating information to legislators and cultivating good relations with state governments. This person should know area legislators and should work with them to prepare annual programs of activities for members of the general assembly. (MLW)

Several recent articles articles have emphasized that educators must begin to speak out strongly about the direction that the standards movement is taking. While many positive outcomes have been realized as education has become more accountable, a series of recent education policy decisions have flown directly in the face of many years of…

This study examined the extent to which issues related to internationalization were considered in institutional policy development at universities, along with the underlying reasons why such issues were considered. A written and telephone survey was conducted with trustees from seven state-supported universities in four states. Two state…

The progress of state policymakers toward promoting teaching for understanding and thinking in elementary schools was studied. Interviews were conducted with curriculum specialists in all 50 states, and follow-up interviews were done with at least 3 specialists in 7 states very active in promoting higher order outcomes. (SLD)

This report provides an audit of state policies in Connecticut affecting access to, and success in, community colleges for students of color and low-income students. It was commissioned by Lumina Foundation for Education as part of a series of policy audits of the states involved in Achieving the Dream. Lumina Foundation is the primary funder of…

Educational policy decisions are political and are affected by demographic, economic, and social factors that influence policy-makers. As the number of federal government programs grew from the 1960's to the 1980's, so did the number of special interest groups lobbying in Washington, District of Columbia, to promote legislation, regulations, and…

One of a series of papers resulting from a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) project to improve evaluation and planning in community colleges, this working paper presents the results of interviews with community college policymakers conducted to assess their views on matters such as non-governmental accreditation,…

The author addresses the trends that characterize the interrelationship of Congress, the Administration, and the nation's education interest groups, and suggests that the system of policy-making for education is in transition, and its outcome will have much to do with the quality of Washington's response to the nation's educational needs.…

Many campus administrators in Alabama also serve in the state legislature, participating in debates and votes affecting their institutions. The potential for conflicts of interest has damaged state policy on higher education. Some recent incidents are described. (MLW)

The fragmentation of educational lobbies, the loosening of party control, lawmakers' growing knowledge of educational issues, and their willingness to listen to their constituents--all these trends enhance the possibility of the principal's making his voice heard. Now is the time to influence state educational policy making. (Editor)

This article considers the advantages and disadvantages of having evaluation users increase the specificity of evaluation requirements through a review of legislative requirements behind several congressionally mandated national-level evaluations, and an in-depth examination of one congressionally mandated evaluation in which very specific design…

Means by which state legislatures practice evaluation are examined by analyzing oversight strategies for monitoring recent educational reforms in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Focus is on the inextricable link between politics and oversight; the oversight strategy and methods for policy evaluation are largely…

A brief discussion of the growing conflict between teachers, administrators, school board members, legislators, and citizen groups over who should have how much control over various aspects of education. (JG)

Five papers are presented from a legislative seminar on budgeting for higher education and the legislative oversight process. In "Budgeting: A University Perspective," Jack K. Williams addresses the preparation of an institutional budget, what legislators should know about budgets, plans for no-growth or retrenchment, and the importance…