A majority of U.S. states have established a "Seal of Biliteracy" (SoBL) to recognize students' multilingualism. Primarily under the purview of bilingual and world language education, the field of literacy research has remained largely silent on these seals. Yet, the authority these seals grant to state institutions for credentialing…

In March 2017, the Supreme Court decided "Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association" and upheld the constitutionality of agency fees for nonunion teachers. We examine how "Friedrichs" reflects a host of issues grouped around a patchwork of ideological commitments regarding teachers unions and public-sector unions more…

Cassie Barnhardt, Marisol Ramos, and Kimberly Reyes share a case study of an undocumented student's academic success to demonstrate the importance of administrative commitment, clarity, and consistency in supporting such students in the unique challenges they face. (Contains 13 notes.)

In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly passed a broad and ambitious reform package that significantly altered how teachers and principals are evaluated. Senate Enrolled Act 001 (SEA 1) requires: (1) annual evaluation for all certificated employees; (2) objective measures of student achievement and growth; (3) rigorous measures of effectiveness; (4)…

Access to the news is sometimes denied journalists because they do not meet whatever definition of "reporter" is being used in a particular situation. This paper examines issues related to the identification of persons as reporters. Among the topics considered are ordinances authorizing the issuance of press cards to reporters; court…

Descriptive and statistical information on school-based clinics are provided. A mailed survey to 68 programs operating 120 school based clinics yielded responses from 46 programs representing 79 clinics, a 69 percent response rate. Data were collected on patterns of student use, student demographics, services, finances, legal issues, policy…

Discusses results of a survey sent to former legislators (representing 18 states) concerning their opinion as to why bills intended to reverse the effects of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier have met with resistance. Identifies characteristics of legislators that sponsored anti-Hazelwood legislation. Concludes that more planning was needed…

During the last two years, New York State has made considerable progress toward opening its government to public inspection. This report discusses New York's open-records law and the creation of the Committee on Public Access to Records, a group of individuals who "interpret the law, oversee its implementation, establish procedures, and…

Presently student teaching is an accepted practice in every school district within the United States; however, the legal status of student teachers, their liabilities, responsibilities, and rights are in many instances poorly described or even nonexistent. An examination is made of current statutory law, case law, attorney general's opinions, and…

Minimum competency testing (MCT) programs for students are growing in popularity and being adopted by many states. In order to determine the extent of the MCT movement, researchers at North Carolina State University surveyed state departments of education in all 50 states. In updating these data for 1986-1987, it was found that 64 percent of the…

The number of students with disabilities entering higher education continues to increase, and there is a concomitant rise in the number of disability accommodation grievances filed in institutions, with the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, and through the legal court system. It is important that faculty members know about disability law. Faculty…

The primary objective of this study is to aid policy makers - state and federal officials, accreditation officials, and university administrators - in making decisions concerning the regulation of postsecondary external degree programs. The purpose of this project is to identify the legal and regulatory issues that the operation of these programs…

This report focuses on laws in the state of Wisconsin as they relate to homemakers. Four areas are discussed, each in separate sections: marriage, widowhood, divorce, and wife abuse. The section on marriage includes information on property rights, disability and death of homemaker, federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, domicile, interspousal…

Explains Connecticut's Teacher Negotiation Act (October 1979), designed to bring about negotiated contract settlements resolving board/teacher impasses and thereby avoid strikes. Responses to the author's questionnaire of Connecticut board members, district administrators, and teachers reveal broad recognition of the law's effectiveness but doubt…

State profiles on youth in adult courts were compiled for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Federal District Courts. This volume contains profiles for the North Central states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The first part of each state profile…