U.S. educators and policymakers are concerned about the poor performance of the public schools, particularly schools that serve students from low-income families. Although education is primarily a state function, the federal government also has a longstanding interest in improving education for disadvantaged students, and it targets funding to…

The future role and importance of educational evaluation are analyzed in terms of the Educational Consolidation and Improvement Act (1981), a block grant whose provisions minimize planning, reporting, evaluation and accountability requirements to ensure that national goals are met. The background in federal and state evaluation programs is…

This document contains guidelines, procedures, and administrative requirements based on the regulations, assurances, and certifications in the South Carolina Three-Year State Plan for Vocational-Technical Education as adopted by the State Board of Education. The guide contains an introduction (section I) and seven main sections. Section II…

An examination of the effects of the Adult Education Act (AEA) 25 years after its passage reveals the growth of the adult basic education (ABE) enterprise in the United States. The AEA provides funding to states to develop and maintain adult basic education programming. Because ABE was recognized as a means of improving the economic status of the…

The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) has developed a plan for a massive rearrangement of financial responsibilities among Federal, State, and local governments. (Author)

For nearly 50 years, the unemployment insurance program has functioned as a unique and largely successful intergovernmental effort. From its inception, federal and state governments have each had principal jurisdiction over particular aspects of the program and both have shared responsibilities for others. The distribution of authority and…

Reviews the Program Integrity Triad enacted by Congress, a three-tier process in which states, accrediting agencies, and the U.S. Department of Education evaluate institutions participating in Title IV federal student aid programs. Describes State Postsecondary Review Entities (SPRE), in which states are directed to set up under the Program…

Examines how states are responding to the increased need for quality child care and the funding issues raised by the costs of such care. Includes sidebars discussing federal child-care proposals, differential reimbursement rates, and programs for families with a stay-at-home parent. (HTH)

In March 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Personal Responsibility Act (H.R. 4), part of the House Republican Contract with America. The bill would move primary responsibility for child and family programs to states and communities, reduce federal spending, and consolidate programs into block grants for child care, child…

A review of vocational education in seven States provides the basis for this report on the role of Federal involvement, authorized by the Vocational Education Act (VEA), as amended. The material is presented in the form of responses to questions. In each area conclusions are offered, followed by recommendations to the Secretary of HEW and…

Intended as a guide for policy makers and associations that deal with educational interests, this report from the Indian Education Project of the Education Commission of the States describes the involvement of tribal, federal, and state governments in Indian education; looks at their intergovernmental relationships; and identifies areas of…

This document contains transcripts of U.S. Senate hearings leading to the reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act. During the hearings, testimony and/or prepared statements were given by the U.S. Secretary of Education, representatives of business and industry (especially the training sector), educators (especially vocational education…

An annotated bibliography from the ERIC index, "Resources in Education," presents 27 resources covering the governmental impact on education in such areas as accountability, the relationship of government and higher education, and the impact of federal legislation on education. (JN)

Argues that the best defense against increasing federal inroads on state educational policy-making is a strong showing of state and local initiative on educational issues and in increased effort by state governments to influence educational legislation at the federal level. (JG)