Discusses the influence of social and economic factors on the management of the public sector in Greece. Deals with the organization and management practice in the Ministry of National Education and Cults. Proposes steps of reform to ensure that decision-making processes are effective. (12 references) (MLF)

Two Pennsylvania school districts have been simultaneously declared financially "distressed" and are operated by a court-appointed board of control. Describes legislation drafted to statutorily establish an early warning system so that the state can assist districts with management and budgeting advice before it becomes necessary to…

A study of 19 private schools in St. Petersburg, Russia, including ethnic, religious, and elite schools, found a precarious situation of legal contradictions about their status, dealings with corrupt bureaucrats, and financial instability. The current socioeconomic crisis will likely diminish their number and diversity. Private schools' survival…

Summerhill School has recently come under fire from England's educational bureaucracy, who are calling for its closure for noncompliance with the British national curriculum. The school has responded that it will not change its noncompulsory status nor any aspect of its educational philosophy that distinguishes it as a democratic, free school. (LP)

Public-school foundations are generally not expected to provide a substantial portion of their school district's budget. The most successful school foundations use fund raising to build bridges between schools and the community-particularly with nonparents and organizations with no direct connections with schools. Their support is indispensable.…

These proceedings report on a seminar held to determine the needs and wants served by the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) in regard to products and services provided by AIR to institutions and individuals. A vulnerability/opportunity audit was conducted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Participants listed…

Moore's Creek Open Elementary school, located in a quiet African-American neighborhood in a sun-belt city, has operated as a progressive school of choice since 1973, despite the low survival rate of public alternative schools. This study identifies forces that have affected curriculum and instruction at Moore's Creek over the past quarter century.…

The Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) is a decade-long commitment by the Ford Foundation to community colleges in distressed rural areas of the United States. Through RCCI, the Foundation channels both funds and technical assistance to targeted community colleges to improve access and foster economic development. The RCCI approach includes…

Findings of a study that examined the outcomes of longterm institutionalization of school reform are presented in this paper. Project Excellence, implemented in 1984 in a secondary school in Cochrane, Ontario, involved a comprehensive change in curriculum, instruction, and professional roles. An initial evaluation of the program, conducted during…

The financial position of Ontario universities is assessed relative to that of comparable U.S. institutions. To maintain and sustain Ontario's universities and thereby maintain and sustain Ontario's competitive position in today's global economy requires a significant financial investment. This study focuses primarily on 10 doctoral-level…

Suggestions on how to enhance a college's fund-raising abilities are presented. Six sections are as follows: exemplary performers (noting the relationships between amounts raised and strategies employed); what works and what does not work in fund- raising (an institution's public visibility is important, and a poverty strategy is not); whether…

A primer on strategic planning related to institutional self-studies and attempts at assessment is outlined. The refinement of a strategic plan and the preparation for continued accreditation are major events in an institution's life, but the two processes are too often kept separate. Strategic planning requires that an institution know who it is;…

Information on indicators of change in American higher education that either individually or collectively might be used to measure the health of the nation's colleges and universities is presented. Change indicators include student/faculty ratio, faculty appointments, student attitudes and characteristics, percentage of female faculty and…

Fitchburg State College's Assessment Week and Annual Development Day are described in this report. Developed in 1976 at this Massachusetts liberal arts college, Assessment Week involves a gathering of the community to discuss pressing issues and future directions. It occurs every 10 years and consists of a 4-day, in-house conference having…

It is now widely recognized that small schools are more productive and effective than larger schools. Yet, public officials and professional educators in many rural areas continue to believe that small schools are inefficient and ineffective, a way of thinking reflected in closed schools, angry residents, and long bus rides for students. About a…