9,848 results on '"BUDGETING"'
Search Results
2. Strengthening the Effectiveness of Writing Retreats in ODeL Institutions
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Babalwa Ceki, Adeyemi Adebayo, and Vusumzi Msiza
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This paper aims to determine the challenges and recommendations of an effective writing retreat, investigated from the attendees' experiences and the facilitators of writing retreats held by an accounting college of an (Open distance e-learning) ODeL institution from 2016 to 2022. The researchers purposively sampled sixteen researchers for interviews from the attendees of the writing retreats, namely--four proven researchers, four emerging researchers, eight developing researchers--and two organisers. The researchers captured the participants' experiences during the writing retreats, challenges, and recommendations for an effective writing retreat. The findings reveal that writing retreats face budget approval issues, undefined objectives, noise, unfocused attendees and non-stop emails and calls from work. Recommendations for effective writing retreats were: organisers need timely budgetary support from the organisation, researchers need subject experts, peer review, ongoing support, accountability, clear retreat objectives, and attendees setting pre-retreat goals to improve the retreat's success. Additionally, a far-from-home venue and tranquil environment are important.
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- 2024
3. 'One of the Weakest Budget Players in the State': State Funding of Higher Education at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Denisa Gándara, Meredith S. Billings, Paul G. Rubin, and Lindsey Hammond
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Prior studies have documented the pattern of decreased state funding for higher education in periods of economic contraction (i.e., the balance wheel phenomenon). This qualitative case study examines how policymakers in California and Texas made decisions about funding higher education at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when policymakers faced an economic downturn. Data comprise 28 interviews with key state actors and 69 documents. The analysis expands prior understandings of how state policymakers make budgeting decisions that affect higher education by exploring how they perceive certain target populations as deserving or undeserving of state support. The study also sheds light on the tenuous relationship between policymakers' views of higher education and their funding decisions.
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- 2024
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4. A Needs Assessment to Support Faculty Members' Awareness of Generative AI Technologies to Support Instruction
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Rita Mathew and Jill E. Stefaniak
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This paper provides an overview of a needs assessment study conducted in higher education to address the impact of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, on faculty development and instructional strategies. The study acknowledges the disruptive effect of AI on academia and the varying responses from faculty members. It emphasizes the importance of equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively integrate generative AI into their teaching practices. The results of the needs assessment reveal various factors contributing to performance gaps, including policy and budget, knowledge, skills, competencies, information, and technological tools. The study suggests that faculty members need support in understanding the scope and implications of AI and AI-driven content creation, assessment, and personalized learning.
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- 2024
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5. 2024-2025 School System Planning Guide. Vision for Success
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Louisiana Department of Education
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Each year, school systems and lead agencies plan for how to improve student learning in the coming year. This process involves reviewing student achievement and progress data, establishing priorities, aligning budgets to these priorities, and implementing plans with support. Ensuring students receive the supports they deserve will require ongoing data-driven decision-making that responds to community needs. This 2024-2025 school system planning guide presents: (1) Vision for Success; (2) Master Timeline; (3) School System Planning Process Overview; (4) Essential Professional Learning Structures; (5) 2024-2025 Priority Focus and Funding; (6) 2024-2025 Super App; and (7) School System Support. [For "2023-2024 School System Planning Guide," see ED631308.]
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- 2023
6. How Do Districts Distribute Money to Schools? Splitting the Bill: A Bellwether Series on Education Finance Equity. #7
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Bellwether, Indira Dammu, Bonnie O'Keefe, and Jennifer O'Neal Schiess
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State funding formulas shape how much money school districts have to spend, but districts usually have considerable discretion with how they distribute funds to schools. Because of this discretion, even if districts receive funds through a highly equitable state system, there is no guarantee that districts will distribute funding equitably to schools. This brief discusses district budgeting methods.
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- 2023
7. Are Friends of Schools the Enemies of Equity? The Interplay of Public School Funding Policies and Private External Fundraising. EdWorkingPaper No. 23-849
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Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, Lisa Barrow, Sarah Komisarow, and Lauren Sartain
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School districts across the U.S. have adopted funding policies designed to distribute resources more equitably across schools. However, schools are also increasing external fundraising efforts to supplement district budget allocations. We document the interaction between funding policies and fundraising efforts in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). We find that adoption of a weighted-student funding policy successfully reallocated more dollars to schools with high shares of students eligible for free/reduced-price (FRL) lunch, creating a policy-induced per-pupil expenditure gap. Further, almost all schools raised external funds over the study period with most dollars raised concentrated in schools serving relatively affluent populations. We estimate that external fundraising offset the policy-induced per- pupil expenditure gap between schools enrolling the lowest and highest shares of FRL-eligible students by 26-39 percent. Other districts have attempted to reallocate fundraised dollars to all schools; such a policy in CPS would have little impact on most schools' budgets.
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- 2023
8. Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts' Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities
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Afterschool Alliance
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The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, enacted in March 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a lifeline for communities across the nation. The ARP Act included $122 billion to support schools through the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, with a minimum of $22 billion (or 20 percent) to be spent on learning recovery strategies that respond to students' social, emotional, and academic needs, such as afterschool and summer enrichment. In this brief, the Afterschool Alliance shares findings from our analysis of more than 6,300 school districts' ARP ESSER spending plans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, examining how ARP ESSER funds were budgeted for afterschool and summer enrichment opportunities.
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- 2023
9. How Colorado Community Colleges Used Funding for Short-Term Credentials. Research Report
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RAND Education and Labor, Jonah Kushner, and Lindsay Daugherty
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This report describes how six Colorado community colleges used $1.4 million of pandemic relief funding to support individuals pursuing short-term credentials. The authors examined state and college decisions about program eligibility, student eligibility, grant amounts, funding uses, and application requirements as well as outcomes for those receiving funding. Findings from the report can inform future short-term credential funding efforts. [This report was funded by the Colorado Community College System.]
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- 2024
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10. Funding and Implementation of Recovery Oriented Treatment Programs in the US from 2006-2020
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Carissa van den Berk-Clark, Margarita Fedorova, Emily Duncan, Tiffany Ju, and Joseph Pickard
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Background: Not much is known about funding for and implementation of Person-centered, long-term services -- referred to as "recovery services." Methods: SAMSHA funding archives from 2004-2020 were analyzed using Latent Class Analysis (LCA). Results: All 50 states (plus DC and Guam) received about 482 recovery-based grants from 2004-2020 (total from 2004-2020 = $425 million vs. 63.3 ± 29.1 million in total SAMSHA funding per year on average). LCA showed 4 trends: peer focused (Pr(Class) = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.08, 0.10), treatment focused (Pr(Class) = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.12, 0.18), system focused (Pr(Class) = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.54, 0.59) and consumer focused (Pr(Class) = 0.19 (0.17, 0.21). Conclusions: Funding for recovery makes up a relatively low percentage of overall funding for substance prevention and treatment. Implications are discussed.
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- 2024
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11. Higher Education Policy Narratives during COVID-19: How Are Budget Requests Justified to State Legislatures?
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Meredith S. Billings, Paul G. Rubin, Denisa Gándara, and Lindsey Hammond
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During economic recessions, state funding for higher education contracts (Delaney & Doyle, 2011; Hovey, 1999; SHEEO, 2022). Despite this reality, public higher education officials need to offer insights and explanations to state legislators about the current status of their institutions and their needs when discussing their budget requests. We use a multiple case-study design, framed by the narrative policy framework, to examine how campus officials in California and Texas justify their budget requests to the state legislature during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on 131 h of transcribed legislative budget meetings and 62 documents, our findings suggest that higher education leaders emphasize the economic functions of higher education and center their ability to successfully manage during these uncertain and difficult times by highlighting improved or stable accountability measures such as enrollment, persistence, graduation, and job placement rates. During these budget requests, there are commonalities between the states regarding the structure, justifications, and narrative strategies used. However, higher education leaders evoked different narrative objects depending on the perceived values, beliefs, and norms of their state legislators.
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- 2024
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12. Autistic Adults' Experiences of Financial Wellbeing: Part II
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Elizabeth Pellicano, Gabrielle Hall, and Ru Ying Cai
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Financial wellbeing is an important component of people's overall wellbeing, reflecting the capacity to live a comfortable and fulfilling life. Yet virtually nothing is known about this topic for autistic people. This study addressed this gap using a two-phase sequential mixed-methods design. Here, we report on findings from the Phase 2 qualitative study. In this study, 21 autistic participants were purposively selected based on the status of their financial wellbeing, including 12 people with high, and 9 with low, financial wellbeing, and interviewed by an autistic researcher. We identified four themes through reflective thematic analysis. Having access to a stable income made an enormous difference to people's financial wellbeing. Participants emphasised how their broader social supports, especially family support, shaped their financial wellbeing. Yet, planning financially was often challenging, especially for people who had insufficient money to meet their basic needs. Nevertheless, our participants reported a strong drive to stay in control and avoid unnecessary risk. Our findings revealed how much money matters in autistic people's lives. Future research should investigate the ways in which autistic people could secure more reliable incomes and identify the most effective ways to support them to achieve financial resilience.
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- 2024
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13. How Political Influence and Financial Pressure Contribute to Performance-Based Budgeting and University Performance: Evidence from SEM and NCA
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He Liying and Zhang Mengying
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The economic downturn has led to a variety of challenges for higher education institutions, including budget cuts and a heightened focus on efficiency and effectiveness. Performance-based budgeting is gaining traction as a means of more efficiently allocating resources, and Chinese public universities are not an exemption. The main purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between political influence, financial pressure, performance-based budgeting, and university performance in China. It also explored power dynamics in Chinese public universities. 271 participants were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. This study employed a multimethod approach combining necessary condition analysis (NCA), the PROCESS macro, and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Furthermore, this study employed a novel technique (the Johnson-Neyman technique) to show the exact scope of the moderation effect. The findings of the PLS-SEM showed that performance-based budgeting is positively related to university performance and acts as a mediator between selected variables, and it also indicated that the moderated mediation model is validated in Chinese public universities. The NCA results showed that performance-based budgeting, political influence, and financial pressure are all important necessary conditions for university performance. Meanwhile, the outcomes of PLS-SEM and NCA showed how researchers and practitioners can pinpoint key elements that affect university performance and produce the best outcomes. Overall, this study provides useful information about the implementation of performance-based budgeting in higher education institutions.
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- 2024
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14. Braiding and Blending Federal Funds: A Step-by-Step Guide for Illinois Schools
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Region 9 Comprehensive Center (R9CC), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), American Institutes for Research (AIR), Ball, Wayne, Howard-Brown, Beth, and Junk, Kevin
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Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) invited 10 districts to participate in a community of practice designed to increase understanding of how to braid and blend federal funds. District teams composed of principals, superintendents, business managers, and other district leaders participated in four 90-minute virtual sessions. The purpose of these sessions was to help leaders: (1) Collaborate with other districts to increase their knowledge and understanding of how to braid and blend federal funds; (2) Identify strategic considerations for mitigating common challenges that may arise when braiding and blending funds; and (3) Identify tools and resources that can support the successful implementation of braiding and blending funds. This guide was developed based on the community of practice work to inform other district and school leaders across Illinois about braiding and blending resource allocation strategies. The guide has four parts. It begins with an overview of the community of practice that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Region 9 Comprehensive Center conducted to support Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in braiding and blending federal funding. Following some background information, the next section provides users with the steps for braiding and blending funds by using a specific tool, including a table of priority areas and federal funding categories and programs. The third section addresses reporting. The final section is a series of appendices, including Illinois guidelines, scenarios, examples from ISBE and several Illinois districts for braiding and blending, and resources to inform those efforts.
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- 2023
15. The Cost of Success: Exploring the Impact of Textbook Costs at a Hispanic-Serving R1 Institution
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Lo, Leo S., Jordan, Jennifer, and Surbaugh, Holly
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The cost of textbooks is a significant concern for undergraduate students, particularly at institutions serving marginalized populations. This study explores this issue at the University of New Mexico, a Hispanic-Serving R1 institution. A comprehensive survey was conducted among undergraduate students to understand their perceptions of textbook costs and its impact on their academic success. The survey covered aspects such as the perceived reasonableness of costs, budgeting practices, and strategies to manage expenses. The results revealed that high textbook costs significantly affect students' financial well-being and academic success. Many students perceive these costs as unreasonable, leading to financial strain. Students employ various strategies to manage these expenses, including purchasing from vendors other than the campus bookstore, renting, or sharing books with classmates. This study underscores the need for enhanced support and resources to alleviate the financial burden of textbook costs on students, contributing valuable insights to the literature on this subject.
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- 2023
16. Involvement of Stakeholders in the Transformation of Educational Services via Taking Advantage of Extra-Curriculum Educational Activities in the Settings of Education Reform
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Bobrytska, Valentyna I., Krasylnykova, Hanna V., Ladohubets, Nataliia V., Vorona, Larysa I., and Lysokon, Illia ?
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The purpose of the study is to explore the ways of involving university stakeholders specifically in updating educational services. It combined exploratory and observational research methods which relied on qualitative or quantitative data gathered through the researcher-designed and validated tools which were the empirical and methodological contributions to the previous research. The five most frequent choices that might encourage the stakeholders to donate or invest in an educational institution were as follows: a portfolio of the use of donations, investments, or grants, having a stake in the educational services of more than 7%, having access to budgeting and cost reporting, having a share in the institutions' profit and being one of the decision-makers. The factors that discouraged investors from investing in education were as follows: distrust of the activity of the educational institutions in terms of addressing the stakeholders' needs or interests, lack of engagement or cooperation, institutional and governmentimposed barriers between them and the institutions, uncertainty concerning the efficiency of the institutions and inefficient use of the resources by the institutions. The initiative was complimentarily perceived by stakeholders in terms of collaboration and investment opportunities. It was also found beneficial by the sampled students.
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- 2023
17. The Interplay between Fiscal Institutions and the Great Recession: Evidence from U.S. School Districts
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Christian Buerger and Michelle L. Lofton
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Recessions may disproportionally affect school districts, especially with established fiscal institutions and policies including balanced budget requirements, tax and expenditure limitations, and school finance reforms. Analyzing the Great Recession and school districts in the United States between 2003 and 2016, we estimated difference-in-differences models leveraging variation in state recession severity to evaluate revenue and expenditure impacts as well as to measure differential recession effects for districts exposed to and not exposed to fiscal institutions and policies. Although revenues and expenditures increased relative to pre-recession levels in all districts, increases were much larger in school districts with less severe than more severe recessions. Balanced budget requirements exacerbated recession effects for low-income districts, and local tax and expenditure limitations intensified recession effects for high-income districts. School finance reforms worsened recession effects for all districts. Our findings can aid districts in understanding potential recessionary impacts, given their prior established fiscal policies and institutions.
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- 2023
18. Top Management and Teacher Involvement in the Strategic Planning Process in Zimbabwean Schools
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Victor C. Ngwenya
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In this study I investigated the involvement of top management and teachers in the strategic planning process in 5 district schools located in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province guided by the Take Stock Analysis (TSA) model. The constructivist/interpretivist paradigm was the qualitative methodology adopted for the study using a case study research method. The participants were 5 education managers and 5 focus groups of 4 teachers, each purposively selected from each school as an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon was sought through face-to-face interviews. Interview data were inductively and thematically analysed while strategic plans provided were inspected using content analysis and supplemented with interview data. The findings were reported following the concept of strategic planning, the formulation, monitoring and evaluation process. The results reveal that some schools used the centralised or decentralised strategic planning process while others hired strategists with minimal involvement from the teachers and the top management of the school. I recommend that stakeholders are actively involved in the entire strategic planning process to enhance ownership and commitment at the operational level. Most importantly, joint periodic evaluations are needed for modification purposes and relevance.
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- 2023
19. Fiscal Health Management Principles: Resource and Technical Assistance Manual
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Region 14 Comprehensive Center, Bergfeld, T., and Abdelhamid, M.
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The Region 14 Comprehensive Center (R14CC) is one of 20 technical assistance centers supported under the U.S. Department of Education's Comprehensive Centers program from 2019 to 2024. The center works to drive educational change in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas so that every student has the opportunity to thrive. Collaborative, customized, adaptable support is provided at no cost to state education agencies throughout the country. R14CC designs and implement projects in the states within the region that build state education agency capacity to carry out evidence-based policies and programs that focus on: (1) Improving the quality of instruction; (2) Increasing access to effective teachers and school leaders; and (3) Closing education achievement gaps. This resource was originally created in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) as a tool to assist school districts in their financial practices to meet the needs of the students they serve. Through a series of engagements with ADE leadership and school district officials throughout the state, R14CC assisted ADE leadership in the development of six fiscal health management principles and related expectations to support each principle. The principles and expectations were originally designed to align with Arkansas laws, rules, and policies. The material within this resource has been modified to provide more generalized guidance that can be adapted and built upon by other states and districts as the principles apply in a local context. However, these principles are intended to guide districts' fiscal administration, decision-making, and strategic planning to educate students and can provide a solid foundation for state- or local-level guidance as it relates to fiscal health operations and ensuring an efficient, successful outcome for the students served.
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- 2023
20. Year 2 Report for Preparation for Expanding Equitable Pathways to In-Demand STEM Careers at Hispanic Serving Institution
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California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) and Jianjun Wang
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California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) continues its five-year grant, "An Equitable Pathway to In-Demand STEM Careers," that began in Fall 2021 to facilitate Hispanic students' degree completion and career preparation in STEM fields. In the second year, the grant team has made satisfactory progress in offering summer and winter research opportunities and establishing year-round mentorship programs. Career talks, bilingual parent workshops, and a summit of high school counselors were held to support equitable pathway expansion. Two important positions (an Outreach/Community College Liaison and an Academic Advisor) were filled, and the budget allocation was adjusted to minimize the impact of the labor shortage on personnel hiring. The evaluation design is guided by a well-established model of Results-Based Accountability for program evaluation under Title III of the Higher Education Act. The report concludes with a review of past recommendations and an introduction of new recommendations for strengthening the program's "servingness" in the third year.
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- 2024
21. Equity-Focused School Funding
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Matt Showman, Cassie Fogel, Dustin Pearson, and Nimrod Shabazz
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This mixed-methods study investigated how school districts in Missouri allocate funds to schools and the extent to which current practices promote equitable distribution of resources to meet student needs, especially for historically under-resourced populations. The study surveyed a sample of school district superintendents and chief financial officers across urban, suburban, and rural locales on their districts' budgeting models, resource allocation procedures, and processes for identifying and funding high-needs student groups. Informed by a literature review tracing historical inequities in Missouri school finance and best practices in equitable funding, the authors developed an equity-focused rubric to assess districts' reporting and provide recommendations. Key findings revealed most districts still rely on traditional line-item budgeting approaches based on annually recurring expenditures, though some are adopting more flexible student-based and zero-based models. Districts inconsistently assess funding equity and lack systematic accountability measures despite implementing some needs-based allocation. Based on the survey insights, the authors recommend the state education agency require districts to use a standard funding rubric evaluating resource distribution equity, alignment to closing achievement gaps, and continuous monitoring of spending impacts. Mandating this statewide framework would enable better oversight, transparency, and equitable budgeting practices across all Missouri districts to meet the needs of every learner. The study aims to inform state and local policy reforms advancing more just and responsive public school funding. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
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- 2024
22. Exploring the Impact of Expense Disaggregation as a Financial Management Tool in Public Institutions of Higher Education through a Mixed Method Approach
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Dylan Raymond-Edward Baker
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This mixed methods dissertation investigates the impact that cost-disaggregating tools like the Delaware Cost Study (DCS) have on the expenditure patterns at large, public research universities. It draws on public budgeting and higher education finance literature to form a theory of action that hypothesizes that expense management at such institutions will result in the internal realignment of resources but will not alter the total amount spent. The quantitative model employs a 15-year panel data set comprised of financial and operational activity data for 69 R1 universities to tests the influence of DCS participation against this idea. The primary quantitative outcome shows that total costs are indeed not altered by cost disaggregation efforts, but that spending at universities employing such approaches is, on average, higher for Instruction and Scholarships and lower for Institutional Support and Student Service activities than the spending at non-DCS participants. The results inform the contrasting case selection strategy that highlights three similar constituted universities with differing quantitative results in an extensive interview-based qualitative analysis. The interviews detail the varied positive and negative outcomes of the use of DCS and similar tools, sheds light as to why the quantitative results occurred at each university, and documents the commonalities. Recommendations derived from the combined results of the two research methods signal key tenets that policy makers may utilize to enhance the effectiveness of public financial management for large, complex state-sponsored universities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
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- 2024
23. A Comparison of Three Methods for Providing Local Evidence to Inform School and District Budget Decisions
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F. M. Hollands, R. Shand, B. Yan, S. M. Leach, D. Dossett, F. Chang, and Y. Pan
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School and district leaders make annual decisions about investing their budgets in a multitude of educational programs. Policy directives set expectations for investing in programs that show evidence of improving student outcomes. However, evaluating many simultaneously-implemented programs under typical school operating conditions is challenging. We investigated three methods -- cost-effectiveness analysis, program value-added analysis, and academic return on investment -- to assess how each one fares against three criteria: rigor of methodology, difficulty of execution, and usability of results for decision-making. We apply each method to three programs implemented in a large, U.S. school district: Reading Recovery, Restorative Practices, and school nurses.
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- 2024
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24. Working on the Dark Side of the Moon: Overcoming Music Education Inequities in the Chilean School System
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Rolando Angel-Alvarado, Isabel Quiroga-Fuentes, and Bayron Gárate-González
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In OECD country members, education policies tend to cut back funding and instructional time for music education at schools, even when supranational agencies advocate for universal access to music involvement and learning. The current study aims to explore music education inequities from the Chilean school system. The method is centered on multiple-case study design, focusing on three boundaries: the time, space, and place. The sample, which was chosen by criteria linked to maximum variation sampling, included participation from 30 music teachers. Results suggest that discrepancies in equitable opportunities are caused not only by the economic situation of schools, but are also provoked by Chile's centralized educational model. In conclusion, some educators live on a darker side than others, but all music teachers are able to see the sun daily because they overcome inequities. Some implications are proposed.
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- 2024
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25. Moving beyond the 'Budget Dance'
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Bo Yan and Thomas Aberli
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The annual budgeting process is a valuable opportunity for districts to systematically examine both resource use and programming. They can then use the findings to optimize resource use and improve program efficacy in ways that will lead to increased student achievement. Bo Yan and Thomas Aberli discuss three root causes for districts' inability to accomplish the goals (reliance on problem-driven needs as the dominant factor of budgetary decisions, disconnect between financial management and performance management, as well as human nature). They propose a cycle-based approach to district budgeting that rests on differentiating investment from operation expenditures.
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- 2024
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26. Assessment of Ethiopian Integrated Functional Adult Education (IFAE) Planning Practice: What Lessons Can Be Learned for Future Adult Education Programmes?
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Yalalem Assefa, Shouket Ahmad Tilwani, Bekalu Tadesse Moges, Yared Fentaw, and Yonatan Muhabaw Tessema
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The study's main purpose is to evaluate the planning practices of the Ethiopian Integrated Functional Adult Education (IFAE) programme and to draw lessons that can be learned for future adult education programmes. The study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design and involved 224 participants. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and analysed by descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The study found that IFAE's planning practices are characterised by four shortcomings: insufficient consideration of learner needs assessment; insufficient consideration in defining the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder throughout the programme; inability to determine what actions should be carried out when and how; and inadequate allocation of resources required for the programme. In addition to these limitations, the study identified factors that hinder IFAE planning, including inadequate stakeholder participation, lack of qualified personnel, social and cultural sensitivities, adaptability and scalability problems, and budget constraints. Therefore, addressing these deterrents through the active participation of stakeholders such as educators, adult learners, and government representatives is critical to designing effective adult education programmes. By incorporating these insights, future initiatives can reach more learners and create a better future for all. Finally, a detailed discussion and conclusions are provided.
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- 2024
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27. Executive Leadership and the Coupling Nature of the Relationship between Educational Organizations and Member Schools in England
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Michalis Constantinides
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This paper draws on coupling and systems frameworks to investigate the relationships between two English Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and their member schools in how decisions are made around budgeting, recruitment processes, and curriculum and assessment. Findings demonstrate when and under what conditions executive leaders and specifically CEOs, as primary agents of coupling, created greater consistency across schools either through centralization or deliberate alignment of school improvement planning, while operating within their complex institutional environments. Implications for practice, policy, and research on system-wide reform are discussed.
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- 2024
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28. Sustaining a Wyoming School Superintendency through Knowledge and Application of the Four Frames of Leadership
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Ryan Mackey
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The school district superintendency is one of the most challenging occupations within public education today and is characterized by high turnover rates (Yates & De Jong, 2018). At times, a public school superintendent experiences difficulties leading to their departure. Examples of such difficulties that require strong leadership skills are dissatisfaction from certain community members, tension with a local school board member, (Grissom & Andersen, 2012), and stress associated with regularly meeting growth and achievement measures set by the state department of education. Additionally, the superintendent is tasked with addressing constantly changing demands of internal and external stakeholders with multiple fiscal limitations (Tekniepe, 2015) while being expected to appropriately handle the demographic changes of the community and district, effectively manage the overall budget, and provide instructional leadership for the internal stakeholders of the district. These demands are difficult to meet when the superintendent does not remain in the position long enough to make substantial changes or is unable to effectively utilize specific leadership traits. This quantitative study set out to determine if a connection existed between tenure and the leadership orientation of Wyoming school superintendents in relation to how they utilize Bolman and Deal's (2017) frames of leadership when facing challenges and experiences associated with the position. The survey results and findings of this study detail the traits and frames of leadership utilized by current Wyoming superintendents when faced with common difficulties faced as a school district leader. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
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- 2024
29. Political Ideology as Determinative of Higher Education Funding: Exploring the Distinctions between Community College and University Funding under Differing Political Regimes
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Paul S. Brown
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Adequacy of funding for public institutions of higher education in the United States is significantly important to an array of stakeholders, including, state legislative bodies, decision-makers in the arena of higher education, and notably, consumers of higher education. State allocation of resources for higher education demonstrates variability, complicating accurate programmatic planning and budgeting. To assist higher education officials in the task of budget forecasting and resource adequacy, this study will help fill the void in understanding the connections between the political composition of the states' legislative bodies and funding levels for differing types of higher education institutions. While significant prior research has delved into questions surrounding higher education funding from the vantage point of political considerations, the question of differential impacts predicated upon institutional type remains underexplored. To address this problem, this study examines political factors influencing higher education funding while differentiating between institutional types according to a grouped Carnegie Classification framework. State funding and legislative data derived from educational, governmental, and professional sources provide the basis for quantitative examination of the relationship between legislative party majority and absence or preference for funding a specific type(s) of higher education. The research results indicate that contrary to some prior research, no partisan preferences for higher education funding across institutional categories is discernable during this study's period. This finding is consistent with hypotheses emanating from the literature of comparative political science wherein the argument is advanced that under conditions of mass higher education partisan differences will be diminished. This study also confirms that two-year colleges inhabit a modestly favorable policy space, as logics for their support transcend partisan preferences, and that these institutions comport more closely to the underlying assumption of the neoliberal ideology undergirding current societal values. The findings suggest that a reversal of the longstanding weakening of support for higher education involves more than the ascendency of one political party, but rather, a recalibration of the purposes and values of higher education, realized by returning to the tenets of classic liberalism. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
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- 2024
30. Examination of Grading Patterns during One Institution's Transition to a Responsibility Center Management Budget Model
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Jonathan C. Reiter
- Abstract
This study examines grading patterns during one intuition's transition to a responsibility center management (RCM) budget model. RCM is intended to focus an institution on resource growth and cost control, and the model incentivizes and rewards these behaviors. The adoption of RCM is becoming more widespread across the United States, especially as institutions are experiencing declining enrollment and shrinking state support (Barr & McClellan, 2018; State Higher Education Executive Officers Association [SHEEO], 2021; The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2019). This has led to budget management being cited as a top priority for institutional leaders (Bass et al., 2021; Rylee, 2011). This decline in enrollment and shrinking state support makes institutions more reliant on existing and prospective students as their primary source of revenue. Through the lens of Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) it is reasonable to assume that institutions may engage in behaviors and practices to maximize their relationship with students. Moreover, as students continue to see themselves as consumers who deserve high grades and a degree, institutions have changed their grading practices to attract and retain these students, and research has shown that students take advantage of these practices to protect their GPA (Bromley et al., 1978; Goldman, 1985). Additionally, research has shown that students, in part, make course choices based on difficulty and expected grade (e.g., Barr et al., 2009; Butcher et al., 2014; Fournier & Sass, 2000; Sabot & Wakemin-Linn, 1991). Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that institutions may transition to RCM to focus on resource growth, and given their reliance on student enrollment, may engage in practices and behaviors to maximize the relationship between the institution and the student. These actions may have unintended consequences, such as grade inflation. My study begins to examine if grade inflation is an unintended consequence of a transition to RCM by exploring what happened to grades during one institution's transition to RCM. The results of my study show that at Public Research University (PRU), a pseudonym, grades continued to increase during and after the implementation of RCM, with a statistically significant increase occurring in the year immediately following PRU's "hold harmless" year. My results also show that grades continued to rise during and after PRU's transition to RCM across all departments when categorized based on historical GPAs, selectivity levels, and enrollment levels. This study is intended to raise awareness of the far-reaching effects that central university decisions, such as budget model choice, may have across the entire institution -- both intended and unintended. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
- Published
- 2024
31. 2023-2024 School System Planning Guide. Vision for Success
- Author
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Louisiana Department of Education
- Abstract
Each year, school systems and lead agencies plan for how to improve student learning in the coming year. This process involves reviewing student achievement and progress data, establishing priorities, aligning budgets to these priorities, and using all available funding sources. Ensuring children receive the supports they deserve will require ongoing data driven decision making that responds to community needs. School systems and lead agencies will use four resources to create and submit successful applications: (1) the Louisiana 2023-2024 School System Planning Guide (SSPG), a resource for LEAs and lead agencies to plan and budget resources; (2) strong school system planning tools, resources, and activities to develop and/or update their multi-year strategic plans to drive funding requests for Super App and budget modifications in the Achieve! application; (3) School System Planning Framework and Funding Guidance to identify their own evidence-based priorities for student improvement; and (4) an editable Strategic Planning and Budgeting Workbook for school systems to use in preparation to submit Super App. [For "2022-2023 School System Planning Guide," see ED615264.]
- Published
- 2022
32. Adult Literacy Education and Reduction of Poverty in Tanzania: A Review of Policies and Their Implementation
- Author
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Fute, Antony, Wan, Xiu-lan, Oubibi, Moham, and Bulugu, Joseph B.
- Abstract
Literacy builds a foundation for further learning and necessitates human capital development that creates a knowledge economy. A clear focus on literacy policies is fundamental in achieving national and international socio-economic targets. In Tanzania, adult literacy growth has been slow, inconsistent, and characterized by regional gaps. A review of policies and practices has revealed several constraints associated with budget allocation and cultural perspectives. We suggest to the governments in the whole developing world to prioritize consistent funding and formulating culture-sensitive policies in ensuring mass literacy, poverty reduction, creation of high productive personnel, and eventually achieve the UNESCO's Agenda 2030
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. School Resource Management Tools: Formative Evaluation. Research Report
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Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom)
- Abstract
In 2018 the Department for Education published "Supporting excellent school resource management: strategy." This set out the Department's commitment to helping schools improve outcomes for pupils by making every pound count and getting the best value from their resources. This strategy underpins the School Resource Management (SRM) Portfolio of support from the department. The is a suite of tools which aims to help schools and trusts save money on day-to-day costs. In September 2021, BMG were commissioned to conduct independent qualitative research to evaluate the use and impact as a result of engaging with this suite of tools: namely the Schools Financial Benchmarking (SFB), the View My Financial Insights tool (VMFI), and the Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) training course and accompanying resources. The specific research objectives for this qualitative project were: (1) What specific decisions and actions have schools and academy trusts taken because of their use of either of the two financial benchmarking tools or ICFP training; (2) What is the broad balance of costs and benefits of these indirect support strands; (3) What have those decisions and actions led to; (4) Including the estimated impact on school or academy trust expenditure; (5) What are best-case scenario impacts on expenditure of using the two indirect support strands; and (6) Are there ways to improve or maximise the contribution of each strand to school or academy trust expenditure? [This report was written by BMG Research.]
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- 2022
34. An Instrument Development to Evaluate Teachers' Involvement in Planning the Schools' Budgeting at Elementary Schools of Yogyakarta Province
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Hadi, Samsul, Maisaroh, Siti, Hidayat, Adityawarman, and Andrian, Dedek
- Abstract
This study aims to develop instruments and evaluate teachers' involvement in planning the schools' budgeting at elementary schools of Yogyakarta Province. The teachers' involvement in planning the school's budgeting was crucial because teachers knew what activities that can increase the schools' quality and budgeting are needed for every activity. This research was development research and evaluation. The population in this study were elementary school teachers of Yogyakarta Province. The samples of this research were some teachers who are taken randomly proportionally from every sub-district of Yogyakarta Province. Data were collected using a survey technique. Instruments that have been developed and validated in terms of content and constructs are distributed to teachers to evaluate the budget planning carried out by each elementary school of Yogyakarta Province. There were three data analyses used in this study, namely Aiken validity analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and quantitative descriptive data analysis by determining the percentage of answers and comparing them with the evaluation criteria proposed by the evaluation expert. The analysis results showed that the 10 indicators obtained from the theoretical exploration resulted in 35 items and only 29 items were valid and reliable both in terms of content and constructs, while the remaining 6 items were discarded. The evaluation results show that the teachers' involvement in planning schools' budgeting is in the quite good category.
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- 2022
35. Resource Management Practices of a Public Higher Institution in the Philippines
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Acido, Josephine V. and Kilongkilong, Dennis Anthony A.
- Abstract
The Philippines is grappling to effectively finance school education resulting in serious consequences for the provision of quality education amidst the backdrop of the pandemic. In this paper, resource management practices of a Public Higher Institution in the Philippines using these dimensions as planning, budgeting, allocation and control were assessed. Descriptive research design was used. Only 72 out of 253 respondents were randomly chosen from administrators, teaching and non-teaching staffs had participated in this study using a validated researched-made questionnaire. Findings revealed that budgeting and allocation were manifested all the time while planning and control practices were implemented most of the time. In order to actualize the resource management rationalization and improvement plan, it is recommended that following projects must have management support and implement in terms of Standardization of Policies and Procedure as well as the Information and Communication Technology Utilization for Resource Management Improvement. The institution must set aside funds to ensure the anticipated development program's success.
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- 2022
36. Superintendents and School Boards Collaborate to Narrow Achievement Gaps: A Suburban New York Multisite Case Study
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Gonzalez, Lara
- Abstract
This study explored the role of school superintendents and board of education trustees in closing the achievement gap, which can be defined as "the disparity in academic performance between groups of students" (Muhammad, 2015, p. 14). District leaders (superintendents and school boards) set the priorities and policies in their school systems and have the power to promote or thwart educational equity (Skrla et al., 2009). The purpose of this qualitative study was to highlight effective practices of superintendents and school boards that have prioritized closing achievement gaps and have succeeded in narrowing them. This study involved four case studies and made use of interviews, observations, and document review. The data revealed that the most formidable challenges to closing achievement gaps were increasingly diverse student needs, stakeholders' deficit-thinking about students, lack of family engagement, and financial obstacles. To overcome those challenges, the researcher found that superintendents used various strategies, including setting a vision for equity at the district level, using data to drive decision-making, hiring quality teachers and leaders, using district funds resourcefully, providing rigorous curricula for students, and creating innovative academic and non-academic programs for students. Although there is academic literature on the challenges that school superintendents face in closing achievement gaps and the strategies that they have used to overcome them, there is a lack of research on how superintendents and their school boards collaborate to narrow achievement gaps. The aim of the study was to address that gap in the literature. Data revealed that district leaders collaborated to narrow gaps by setting district visions, goals, and policies, sharing information, and partnering on the budgeting and hiring processes.
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- 2022
37. Application of the Flipping Concept in Educational Planning
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Johnson, Arvin and Chan, Tak Cheung
- Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to recognize the special features of the flipped classroom and to explore the aspects of opportunities that the flipping concept can be applied to educational planning. The essential elements of the flipping concept are identified. A brief review of the key studies on flipped classrooms at both the college and high school levels was presented. Analysis is made on the basic flipping concept as it applies to educational planning meetings. Then, the flipping concept is incorporated with the stages of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation System (PPBES) to perceive how the flipping concept can help with strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system. The authors conclude by confirming the key elements of the flipping concept, "increased interaction" and "practical application," as clear benefits to the educational planning process.
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- 2022
38. State Higher Education Funding during COVID-19: Lessons from Prior Recessions and Implications for Equity
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Rosinger, Kelly, Kelchen, Robert, Baker, Dominique J., Ortagus, Justin, and Lingo, Mitchell D.
- Abstract
States provide substantial support for higher education through appropriations to public colleges and universities that can be used to maintain relatively low tuition levels and funds for financial aid. Higher education often receives disproportionate cuts during recessionary periods, and it faces potentially unprecedented reductions in coming years amid a pandemic that has left some states with revenue shortfalls. How states approach higher education cuts has the potential to exacerbate existing inequities among racially minoritized and low-income students and historically underfunded institution types. In this study, we document trends in higher education funding over time and use latent profile analysis to identify distinct approaches states have taken to higher education funding. We then examine the trajectories of higher education funding within each approach over time, particularly during prior recessions. We conclude by discussing the implications of each approach for equity, particularly in light of states' early responses to the current economic downturn.
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- 2022
39. Power-Center Forming Games Behaviors of School Principals: Mixed Method Research
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Toytok, Esef Hakan and Dogan, Mehmet
- Abstract
The aim of the research is to examine power-center forming games behaviors of the school principals according to view of the teachers. In the research a mixed type was preferred and descriptive sequential pattern was used. The population of the research has consisted of teachers working in kindergarten, primary schools, middle schools and high schools in Onikisubat and Dulkadiroglu districts of Kahramanmaras in 2020-2021 academic years. In the quantitative dimension of the research, simple random sampling method was used as sample and consisted of 553 teachers. In the qualitative dimension of the research, purposeful sampling method was used and consisted of 16 teachers who attended quantitative dimension. After the collection and analysis of quantitative data in the research; qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The obtained data were analyzed by passing through the appropriate quantitative and qualitative statistical protocol for research. According to the obtained results based on the research data; In the quantitative dimension, it has been determined that the behavior of the School Principals on forming Power Center Games is at a moderate level according to the views of the teachers. While it was determined that a meaningful difference in the several of ''gender, branch, type of school'', it was seen that there was not a meaningful difference according to several of ''service life and unionizing''. In the qualitive dimension, it was determined that school principals used power-center forming games behaviors higher-up in the interview made with teachers. It has been observed that while the school principals exhibit the behaviors of "bossing, expertise, empire and budgeting" games more than the behaviors of Power Center Games, they rarely prefer the behaviors of "sponsorship and alliance building" games.
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- 2022
40. The Internationalization of Post-Secondary Education in Manitoba: A Critique of Two Government Policy Approaches, 1999 - 2021
- Author
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Browning, Kimberly and Elnagar, Abdelhady
- Abstract
International education has become a policy sector of increasing importance to the Canadian province of Manitoba. Provincial governments with opposing political ideologies can impact international education policy differently. Using narratives as an analytical framework, we identify themes by examining the approaches taken to the international post-secondary education (PSE) sector in Manitoba under the last two governments that held office. The analysis reveals that while both governments' policies are underpinned by neoliberalism reflecting the economic benefits of international student recruitment and retention, key differences are identified. While cultural diversity and global understanding, policy coordination and collaboration, associated leadership, strategy, and a regulatory framework were important components of international PSE policy, there has been a discernible shift towards an austerity agenda, free market policies, and a reconceptualization of international PSE as an immigration-focused policy. The paper concludes that the current government's focus on labour markets and immigration when it comes to international PSE means that other aspects of internationalization are little understood and supported.
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- 2022
41. Opinions of Primary School Principals on Pre-School Education: An Example of the Zonguldak Province
- Author
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Ariman, Gülden and Ulutas, Birgül
- Abstract
This study aims to investigate the views of primary school principals regarding pre-school education. The study was carried out with ten primary school principals in the city of Zonguldak during the 2021-2022 academic year. The case study method, one of the qualitative research types, was used in the research. Based on the purpose of the research, the semi-structured interview technique was used to collect the data. A personal information form and an interview form prepared by the researchers were used to collect data in the study. In the research, it used the content analysis technique for the data obtained as a result of the semi-structured interviews. When the findings are examined, it shows that the primary school principals involved had positive perceptions regarding pre-school education. The primary school principals stated that pre-school education supports a child's psychomotor, linguistic, and cognitive development, and facilitates the preparation of children for primary school and their adaptation to school. Having a qualified pre-school educational institution in suitable conditions for children with interior and exterior space, it was stated that physical conditions and equipment should be planned in such a way that children can move freely. Some say that pre-school teachers should love their profession, be tolerant, give importance to their professional development, establish good relations with children and be role models to make pre-school education qualified. It was stated that the school principals had budget problems in pre-school education. They said that they sought support from the school-parent union and collected dues to solve these problems. Preparing physically suitable environments to carry out pre-school education more effectively, they expressed their suggestions to have auxiliary personnel, not to provide uninterrupted training, and to allocate the budget. [This paper was published in: "EJERCongress 2022 Conference Proceedings," Ani Publishing, 2022, pp. 152-165.]
- Published
- 2022
42. Children's Budget 2022
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First Focus on Children, Dallafior, Michelle, Troe, Jessica, Kayal, Michele, Sasner, Conor, Gomez, Olivia, Dallafior, Michelle, Troe, Jessica, Kayal, Michele, Sasner, Conor, Gomez, Olivia, and First Focus on Children
- Abstract
"Children's Budget 2022" finds that the share of federal spending on children climbed to a historic 11.98% of the U.S. budget in FY 2022, producing remarkable declines in child poverty, hunger and the rate of children without health insurance. The report finds that the share of U.S. domestic and international spending on children rose 21% over the last five years, making up 11.98% of all federal spending in FY 2022 (11.88% for domestic, 0.10% for international). This share stands in stark contrast to pre-pandemic investments when the total share of federal spending on children was only 7.55% of the federal budget. Congress, however, has begun backing off these investments, with inflation-adjusted dollars for children dropping nearly 17% between FY 2021 and FY 2022. The report tracks federal spending in roughly 250 domestic and international programs. This year for the first time First Focus on Children began to track outlays that protect children from the impact of climate change, air pollution, toxic substances, pesticides, and other areas of environmental health. [For "Key Takeaways from Children's Budget 2022," see ED626706. For the 2021 report, see ED617710.]
- Published
- 2022
43. A System-Wide Approach to Tackling Inequalities from the Early Years. Gender-Transformative Pre-Primary Education
- Author
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UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti (Italy)
- Abstract
Mainstreaming gender within pre-primary education is a priority in tackling gender-related inequalities from the early years. Such mainstreaming requires the commitment of a variety of stakeholders within the education system and beyond, including different units within education ministries, pre-service and in-service teacher training providers, teacher unions, other ministries, academia and civil society organizations. This brief presents key advocacy points and enabling conditions to support education ministries to engage these partners in the delivery of gender-transformative pre-primary education. Advocacy points are aligned with the five components of quality systems: planning and budgeting; curriculum development and implementation; workforce development; family and community engagement; and quality assurance. [For the full research report, "Tackling Gender Inequality from the Early Years: Strategies for Building a Gender-Transformative Pre-Primary Education System," see ED627660.]
- Published
- 2022
44. Addressing Gender Inequalities from the Early Years of Education. Gender-Transformative Pre-Primary Education
- Author
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UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti (Italy)
- Abstract
Access to pre-primary education has increased significantly in the past two decades and, as of today, boys and girls are participating equally. However, despite this gender parity in access, the pre-primary education system does not always deliver on its potential to tackle gender inequalities and address harmful gender stereotypes and norms. In particular, children begin to gain insight into certain cultural gender stereotypes as early as the ages of two and three. There is, therefore, a need to proactively incorporate gender-responsive and gender-transformative strategies into the design and implementation of pre-primary education systems to address gender inequalities. [For the full research report, "Tackling Gender Inequality from the Early Years: Strategies for Building a Gender-Transformative Pre-Primary Education System," see ED627660.]
- Published
- 2022
45. Voices of Decision-Makers: How District & School Leaders Decide about School Librarian Employment
- Author
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Lance, Keith Curry, Kachel, Debra E., Breevoort, Leah, Gerrity, Caitlin, and Ellis, Deeth
- Abstract
In the final phase of the federal grant project called The School Librarian Investigation--Decline of Evolution? (SLIDE), a qualitative study of interviews of K-12 school leaders was conducted. The purpose was to learn the factors, experiences, and priorities that caused school administrators to either increase or to decrease librarian positions. In the report "Voices of Decision-Makers: How District & School Leaders Decide about School Librarian Employment," 49 school leaders were anonymously interviewed from 29 states and D.C. Most were superintendents, assistant superintendents, or district-level administrators. Among school administrators who increased school librarian positions, researchers identified four major themes: (1) Equity of Access to Librarians; (2) New Leadership, New Priorities; (3) More Teaching by Librarians; and (4) Opportunity to Meet Mandates. Among administrators who reduced, eliminated, combined, or reclassified school librarian positions, three prevailing themes emerged: (1) New Priorities, More Specialists & Teachers; (2) Can't Find a Librarian; and (3) New Leadership, New Priorities. A prevailing theme among both groups of interviewees--whether librarian positions were increased or decreased--related to changes in administration and/or changes in priorities. This suggests that support for school librarians is sometimes based on preconceived beliefs of new leaders about the value of school libraries and librarians. Also, both groups were influenced by previous experiences working with or supervising school librarians, whether positive or negative. Factors were grouped into three types. Structural factors were identified as those administrators felt little control over, including, hiring staff to address state mandates, opening/closing of buildings, and "pipeline" issues. Pragmatic factors addressed logistical issues such as having enough teachers to cover classes and reassigning librarians as needed to meet immediate needs. Strategic factors represented district priorities and goals, including hiring staff perceived to improve specific student performance goals or to improve equity of access to librarians. Administrators in schools that added librarians were more likely to report strategic factors while those that reduced librarian positions cited more structural and pragmatic factors. Insightful quotes are included in the report and illustrate unenviable and difficult decisions that school leaders had to make to staff library and information services to meet local needs while staying within their budgets. To add perspective to these 49 cases, national school librarian employment data were. The last two years of available data--2020-21 and 2021-22--revealed extreme volatility in hiring patterns likely due to the impact of the COVID pandemic. In 2021-2022, 7.1 million U.S. students were in districts that had no school librarians--that is 35 percent of all local school districts. Of those districts with no librarians, 57 percent were majority-minority districts. In short, access to school librarians continues to be a major source of educational inequity driven by the circumstances and often unique realities of today's K-12 environment and the priorities and values of key administrative school leaders. These findings have significant implications to policy makers who decide educational funding, school library associations that set standards and staffing guidelines, and universities that offer school library programs and recruit for the future of the school library profession. [The project SLIDE: The School Librarian Investigation--Decline or Evolution? was conducted by Antioch University Seattle.]
- Published
- 2023
46. Know More: Invest in Canadian Research, Science and Post-Secondary Education. Submission to the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Federal Budget
- Author
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Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
- Abstract
Universities, colleges, and polytechnics are key public institutions that play an important role in Canadian society. From places of learning, research and discovery to economic hubs and community pillars, postsecondary institutions are at the forefront of innovation and problem-solving for the complex issues the country faces. However, years of inadequate public funding have increased precarity in the academic workforce, reducing research capacity, while leading to increasing student fees that is making education less accessible and affordable for many. According to the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), Canadian universities and colleges are tasked with preserving, sharing, and advancing knowledge. This crucial mission can only be achieved if both the federal and provincial governments ensure that science, research and post-secondary education and training are properly funded, affordable, and accessible. CAUT recommends three key areas where federal leadership and investments are needed: (1) Research and science; (2) Affordable education and training; and (3) Address inequities in education.
- Published
- 2023
47. Adopting a Critical Lens: A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Local School Resources
- Author
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Yang, Ji Ho and Knight, David S.
- Abstract
Current studies of school finance equity focus on quantitative approaches to understanding resource disparities. Analyses of school resources that capture stakeholder perceptions and values are better positioned to critically examine the historical, cultural, and political significance of different types of school resources. The purpose of this article is to advance a framework for analyzing school resources at the site level through a critical lens. We propose a novel conceptual framework, which we refer to as the "Critical School Level Resources" framework, to capture how local school stakeholders, specifically principals, teachers, and families, understand, allocate, and use school resources. Our hope is to see this framework push the field's conceptualization of resources to include qualitative and critical approaches, in addition to quantitative or a-critical metrics, while incorporating more stakeholders in the evaluation of resources at their schools.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Gender-Responsive Financing of Education in Punjab
- Author
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Manzoor, Rabia, Tabbasum, Rabia, Ahmed, Vaqar, Zahid, Junaid, and Syed, Shujaat Ahm
- Abstract
This study provides a gender analysis of public sector budgets in education sector of Punjab for the period of 2016 to 2018 from the preprimary to secondary level. The research methodology is based on review of secondary information and data, key informant interviews, stakeholder consultations, and a review of budgetary process. It helps in systematically approaching our research questions. The study finds gender disparities in budgets for the public education sector with key focus on reconfiguration of budget process. The gender lens should be introduced at a very early stage where budget call circulars are being sent to the departments concerned.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Academic Return-on-Investment (AROI) and Budget Decision-Making: A Research Brief
- Author
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Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky), Leach, Stephen M., and Yan, Bo
- Abstract
The evidence-based decision-making emphasis in education has largely focused on the adoption of new practices for which evidence of effectiveness exists. Following adoption, however, the focus shifts to improvement and the appropriate evidence needed to support budget decisions must be local, timely, and relevant. Existing evidence used to support adoption rarely meets these requirements, thus the critical task for educators at the improvement stage is to produce the necessary evidence. Since 2018, we have investigated the viability of Academic Return-on-Investment (AROI) as both a framework and a practical metric for informing budget decisions aimed at improvement. As a decision-making framework, AROI relies on the notions of scrutiny and return to provide supporting evidence for leaders' efforts to obtain the greatest academic benefits for each dollar invested. As a metric, AROI is a ratio of effectiveness to costs, weighted by the number of participants, typically interpreted as the change in outcome per unit cost. Although our practical AROI metric compared well with more rigorous cost-effectiveness and value-added analytic results for informing budget decisions, we note the adaptability within a general AROI framework to tailor the research design and methodology to a particular situation and to answer the pertinent decision-oriented research question(s). Based on our findings, we view AROI as a flexible approach to generating evidence that is local, timely, and relevant to inform budget decisions in the improvement phase of an investment. Developing the necessary organizational and data infrastructure to support AROI implementation requires top leadership support and patience. Because AROI results are informative rather than definitive, close collaboration with investment item owners is crucial to engender trust and guide improvement efforts.
- Published
- 2021
50. A Chapter-Based Online Resources Project for the Introductory Personal Finance Class
- Author
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Pettijohn, James B., Ragan, Kent P., and Ragan, Gay A.
- Abstract
It is an easily observed reality that the typical college/university student is extremely comfortable with the use of technology and particularly with the use of the Internet. The authors contend that this fact almost requires that instructors of finance classes incorporate the use of web-based financial resources into their in-class presentations as well as their out-of-class assignments. Given the proliferation of online resources and the extensive website listings in most finance textbooks, we believe the difficulty is not locating resources; instead, it is one of choosing a set of resources that can be employed in efficient and effective ways to enhance both the interest and the learning of students. This paper attempts to address this situation by discussing a textbook chapter-based online project created to familiarize students with a beneficial selection of online personal finance related services, while supporting topics generally encountered in the first personal financial planning class. A template designed to simplify grading of the student project submissions also is included.
- Published
- 2021
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