Whether joint custody should be mandated by state law as the norm for divorcing couples is hotly debated between fathers' and mothers' rights groups and among mental health and legal professionals. This debate is traced, and the public policy implications of recent joint custody research are discussed. Policies for strengthening coparenting after…

Addresses the question of generational equity and discusses several intergenerational policies that have been proposed, including family leave and long-term home health care. Concludes that the aging lobby must adapt to a changing political landscape, view intergenerational policy proposals in a more favorable light, and devote more attention to…

Encourages family scientists to participate in legislative activities in their own states. Suggests skills, strategies, and tactics to ensure any foray into legislative arena is of high quality and maximum value. Includes practical tips on how to avoid common mistakes. (Author/ABL)

The increasing rate of absenteeism among Canadian and U.S. public school students is discussed noting the widespread effects of low attendance. Eight questions are provided as a starting point for reassessment of school board attendance policy. Ontario attendance legislation and current enforcement practices are briefly explained. (SB)

Discusses the following aspects of child abuse laws and the policies derived from them: (1) vagueness of the laws; (2) implications for school policy and liability; (3) staff training requirements; (4) confidentiality; (5) protection teams; (6) abuse by school staff; (7) corporal punishment as abuse; and (8) prevention programing. (JS)

Describes the debate in Illinois over proposed bilingual education policy changes. Analyzes these issues: the effectiveness of transitional bilingual education, the inclusion of a cultural component, language assessment, the overprescriptiveness of current Illinois law, the impact of extending services to all limited-English proficient students,…

The U.S. Supreme Court decision that it is unconstitutional for public entities to ban specific kinds of "fighting words" without banning all such speech is discussed as it concerns institutions of higher education. It is viewed that the college campus, not the cities, is where this decision will be tested. (GLR)

Findings and recommendations regarding the regulation and provision of child day care in Virginia are reported. Most of the data in the report are based on recent Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission surveys of parents, child care providers, regulatory personnel, and child care programs in other states. In general, child day care in…

To generate a theoretical model for future interpretation, this study analyzed the 1985 Indiana Legislature concerning educational policymaking in public school funding. Previous research indicates that the classical rational actor model of policymaking inadequately addresses multidimensional pressures at work in state legislatures. A model is…

This presentation discusses the influence of the Connecticut Association of Colleges and Universities for Teacher Education (CACUTE) on state policy making. It provides a historical analysis of the CACUTE through an overview of the political and economic forces that have resulted in current teacher education policy in Connecticut. The presentation…

The report was prepared by a task force appointed to examine issues related to the University System of Maryland (USM) ten years after its creation in 1988. The task force focused on key issues raised by stakeholders and higher education experts, including statewide goals and priorities for the USM; duplication and overlap of authority between the…

This report, last in a series describing employment and training needs of Hispanics in Michigan, synthesizes the information presented in preceding volumes in order to identify target group needs and make recommendations for policy formulation and program development. Chapter I describes the study's scope and method. Chapter II provides a…

This report discusses ways to determine why female Federal employees earn less than male Federal employees. Two general approaches are discussed: economic analysis and job content. Economic analysis attempts to measure and explain existing wage differentials between men and women using characteristics of individuals, occupations, and the…