The purpose of this study was to compare per pupil receipts for operation in most school districts in Texas based on the changes in State funding provided for by three major finance bills and to analyze the effects of federal monies provided by Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to determine the degree of equity in the State's school finance structure. The population consisted of 973 public school districts reporting all data for 1974-75, 1976-77, and 1977-78. The districts were grouped into ten wealth deciles based on School Tax Assessment Practices Board assessed property value per student in average daily attendance. A weighted mean value for each decile for each category and year of funding was computed. Correlation coefficients were computed to provide an index of relationship between the categories of dollars available per pupil for operations. Coefficients of variation were determined to express the magnitude of variation relative to the average value for each additive category for each decile.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chapter 1 computer-assisted instruction (CAI) upon the achievement of elementary educationally disadvantaged students. Specifically, this study determined the effects of CAI upon the academic performance of Chapter 1 sixth-grade students in reading and language arts. The sample consisted of 514 sixth-grade students from an eastern-USA LEA's Chapter 1 program--257 low-achieving students in the experimental group and 257 moderate to high achieving students in the control group. Each treatment group received reading and language arts instruction through the LEA's Chapter 1 program; however, the experimental group's reading and language arts program was supplemented via CAI. The non-equivalent control group design when subjects are growing, Type 2, as developed by Bryk and Weisberg, was employed to analyze the pretest/posttest data and to test the hypotheses presented in the study. In this design, observed standardized gain scores were used to estimate posttest scores generated by predictions made using control group relationships. The mean growth curve fan spread linear model made adjustments based on an estimated regression coefficient between growth status at pretest and growth status at posttest. The Science Research Associates Assessment Series served as the measuring instrument / Ed. D.

In what is historically a brief number of years, the life and times of John F. Kennedy have taken on legendary proportions. His presidency began with something less than a mandate from the American people, but he brought to the White House an inspiration and a style that offered great promises of things to come.

This study analyzed test scores of economically disadvantaged students who attended two elementary schools implementing different types of Title I models from 1999-2001. Test scores from the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-9) were analyzed. One school implemented the targeted assistance model (less than 50% poverty), which focused resources on students were identified as failing or at risk of failing. The other a schoolwide model (95% poverty), which used resources to help all students in a school regardless of whether they ware failing, at risk of failing, or economically disadvantaged. The quantitative approach was used with a causal comparative design. A cohort of continuously enrolled students was identified for the TAAS (n=169 and 189) and the ITBS/SAT-9 (n=49 and 87). Descriptive statistics such as the frequency, mean, and standard deviation, were used to measure differences on the Texas Learning Index (TLI) for the TAAS, and Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) on the ITBS/SAT-9. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to partially adjust for preexisting differences among the groups and because randomization was not possible. The independent variable was type of Title I model, targeted assistance or schoolwide. The dependent variable was the achievement measure, and the covariate was the initial achievement scores in third grade (pretest). The ANCOVA reports and descriptive statistics showed that economically disadvantaged students performed better in reading and math on TAAS and ITBS/SAT-9 at the targeted assistance school in 1999 and 2001, with mixed results in 2000. The academic performance of economically disadvantaged students at the targeted model was consistent all three school years. They scored slightly lower than the non-economically disadvantaged students, but higher than their peers at the schoolwide model. The students' third grade pretest score was the most significant predictor of future performance.

The focus of the study was to observe changes brought about by the implementation of Chapter 2 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 in local jurisdictions of government when the disposition of federal funds were under local control. The study investigated the extent to which the six expressed intentions of Chapter 2, ECIA legislation were realized in 154 local education agencies in the state of Mississippi two years after implementation. Specifically, the six legislative concerns were to: * Reduce the amount of paperwork without reducing the quality of programs, * Equalize the distribution of federal funds without reducing the benefits to specific target populations, * Increase local discretion without diminishing prior program commitments to the original national priorities, * Increase the role of private education without raising the constitutional issue, * Reduce reporting and evaluation requirements without a commensurate loss of accountability, and * Reduce the constraints on SEAs in the planning of federally funded projects and programs without a loss of perceived quality in those programs. Data sources collected for analysis included: a mail survey, interviews with state and local school personnel, and supportive documents from both the state education agency and local school districts. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. From the study it was concluded that, while the goals of Chapter 2, ECIA legislation were admirable, they were replete with unintended consequences. Further, while many of the legislative objectives were met at the national level several of the objectives had differing effects in a state like Mississippi which exerted little SEA influence. / Ph. D.

There has been an increase in the use of partnerships as a policy prescription for improving education since the mid 1980's. This trend builds on nearly a century of reform movements in education. In order to improve education policy, this study focuses on the question of whether math and science education partnerships as typically constituted provide the necessary conditions for the adaptive management (sustainable and adaptable action) of local education problems by the participants. This qualitative study uses data derived from the views of 32 experts on math and science partnerships collected during an internet-based application of the Delphi methodology designed to develop testable elements of a logic model of partnerships in math and science education. The results of this study suggest that the implementation and content requirements built into grant programs that include partners as a condition in aid most often result in a narrow programmatic focus among the participants. Organizations choose to participate in disjointed serial interventions that support organizational needs or goals based on the availability of funding and partners for particular programmatic activities. They choose partners from among those who are interested in similar or complementary activities. The primary focus of STEM education partnerships is therefore on implementing and sometimes evaluating the funded programmatic activities and not on building a broader learning community. Activities or education problems that are not funded tend to be excluded from the activities and dialog of the policy-induced partnership. By limiting the scope of the collaboration we are limiting the potential for adaptive management and the value of these partnerships.

This paper is divided into four chapters. Chapter one presents an introduction and overview of the nature of the problem, its significance and implication for public policy, and a presentation of the research design and methodology. Chapter two reviews the historical and legal background of bilingual education policy. Chapter three presents a literature review of bilingual education policy making, and examines the impacts and effects of federal aid in practice. Chapter four provides a summary of survey findings and recommendations for reform of the funding criteria for Title VII ESEA bilingual education grants.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Political Science, August, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.