Ten years have passed since New York's highest court ruled in the landmark school-funding and educational-rights case, "Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) v. State of New York," that the state was violating students' constitutional right to the "opportunity for a sound basic education" and ordered significant reforms of the…

The Yearbook of Education Law contains analyses of the previous year's federal and state court decisions that affect private and public elementary and secondary schools and higher education. The Yearbook provides summaries and analyses of relevant state appellate and federal trial and appellate court cases. Contents include: (1) Employees; (2)…

Argues for a consistent approach to determining when Section 1983 litigation may follow state proceedings. Provides guidelines similar to those applied in habeas corpus proceedings for deciding when federal action will be barred. Available from UCLA Law Review, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024. (IRT)

Intended to assist debaters and coaches who will be debating the 1983-84 national high school debate topic, this booklet combines discussion of general debate theory, and information specific to the topic: "What changes are most needed in the procedures used in the United States justice system?" The eight chapters of the booklet contain…

To help individuals, groups, and organizations obtain federal government records on themselves and others, this guidebook interprets the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. The acts provide access to government data, personal records, and business information. The guidebook presents the texts of both acts, with…

Determining whether an employee's First Amendment free speech interests should prevail over legitimate employer concerns for an efficient workplace is a difficult question that this book attempts to answer. To give public employers and public employees an understanding of the legal framework in which free speech issues are decided is the purpose…

Outlines the legal authority permitting North Carolina school officials to excuse all students' attendance under a uniform policy and applies this policy to absences and early checkouts by 18-year-olds. Cites cases supporting school officials' legal duty to consider exemptions for 18-year-olds with extenuating family circumstances. Cites 37…

Discusses the political controversy over affirmative action discrimination. Broadly outlines three cases in which the Supreme Court has addressed the issue. Analyzes three lower court decisions affirming the validity of affirmative action. Examines research on race and gender role models. (MD)

This publication is intended to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. It was prepared by 18 organizations, many of whom have been working individually and together for a number of years to…

Although the Supreme Court has answered the important questions concerning the constitutional requirements for searches of students by school officials in the public schools, many issues remain unresolved. School officials are advised to proceed with caution, particularly with regard to strip searches, mass searches, and dogs to sniff students…

Designed to assist the public in understanding the judicial system and judicial process in Alabama, this handbook (1) presents an overview of Alabama's courts and their jurisdictions, (2) identifies the officers of the courts and the contributions each makes to the judicial process, and (3) narrates in general terms the procedures most common to…

Reviews a Minnesota study of tax concessions to private school parents and provides an analysis of the strategy of constituency mobilization. The Minnesota experience shows that a mobilized, powerful issue constituency can enforce political accountability on the bargaining process and influence educational policy. Such single issue linkages…

The scenario: Pictures of children in various states of nudity are discovered in an elementary teacher's desk. What does one do? This paper offers guidance, much of it based on common sense, for administrators who may find themselves in a situation fraught with serious consequences if a mistake is made in determining the truth. Court decisions are…

Addresses the authority of school officials to regulate student dress by examining school dress codes, first with respect to communicative dress--or dress that communicates speech--and then with respect to noncommunicative dress. Provides a summary of the law on dress codes and a basic set of rules to assist school officials in drafting…

A brief review of the federal constitutional provisions and equivalent Texas Constitutional provisions for the criminally accused is provided in question and answer form. First Amendment rights related to such matters as freedom of the press, rights of students, picketing, distributing leaflets, state licensing, and obscenity are considered in the…