Information is provided concerning California's newly enacted Early Childhood Education Program. The plan calls for restructuring the K-3 program to allow for: (1) lower adult-pupil ratios; (2) individualized, diagnostic instruction; (3) parent participation and involvement; (4) parent education; and (5) expanded inservice education to upgrade…

This report is a compilation of educational policy items from all 50 states, where applicable. The report is organized into 25 sections: Accountability (K-12); Assessment; At Risk; Attendance; Bilingual/ESL; Character/Citizenship Education; Charter Schools; Choice; Dual/Concurrent Enrollment; Early Childhood; Finance; Financial Aid; Governance…

Urges that mandatory sickle cell screening laws be repealed, and that all screening programs be voluntary; bogus sickle cell organizations are a major crisis in black communities and must be eliminated; research and education in sickle cell disease is badly needed. (Author/JM)

Reports on the national demand for higher educational standards evident in the state legislation of the past three or four years that has mandated minimum competency testing programs. States that have adopted various kinds of such legislation are listed. (JD)

Describing the duties, activities, staff, and budget of the North Carolina Bicycle Program, this article details 11 completed, 9 current, and 9 new Bicycle Program Projects. Journal availability: see RC 503 504. (SB)

Examines the extent to which state mandates, including legislation, policies, rules, and practices, establish the context within which many student tracking systems are initiated, designed, and implemented. Reviews trends and considers the diversity among state approaches. (DMM)

The impact of legislation in California establishing "Pass to Play" policies of minimum academic requirements for extracurricular and co-curricular activities in grades 7 through 12 was examined. District policies varied widely and most were more stringent than required by legislation. Overall, the legislation helped establish academics…

The Georgia School Counselor Evaluation Program was developed in response to a legislative requirement to provide annual performance evaluations for all school counselors. The evaluation program is composed of two instruments and a set of procedures to ensure equitable evaluation for all counselors. (SLD)

Interviews with state legislators from Wisconsin (D. Bezruki), Massachusetts (T. P. Kennedy), and Virginia (P. Leone) illustrate the roles that evaluation is playing in the current state budget crisis. The influence of evaluation data appears largely specific to individual programs rather than systematically applied to the budgeting process. (SLD)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a potent and a present danger for teenagers, casting a dark shadow over their lives now and in the future. A small, but significant, number of teenagers will develop Human Immune Virus (HIV)-related illness before they turn 20; a far greater number will become infected with the virus during…

The 1990 Family Day Care Licensing Study provides the results of a nationwide survey of state regulatory agencies that was conducted to update family day care licensing information last collected in 1989. As in past years, the study includes an in-depth examination of regulatory requirements for large family day care homes. The study has been…

The Rural Opportunities Offer Tomorrow's Success (ROOTS) program is a series of policy initiatives which address problem areas in rural education, economic development, health care, and access to programs in Pennsylvania. Policy initiatives to create a better educated rural workforce include: (1) expanding career and financial counseling in rural…

Reported is progress made by the state educational agency and local school districts in Wisconsin toward implementation of Chapter 89, laws of 1973 for the school year 1973-74. (LS)

The main purpose of this report is to inform the New Jersey Legislature, the Governor, and the citizens of the state about the status of child care in New Jersey. Additional purposes are to report on activities of the New Jersey Child Care Advisory Council in 1989 and recommend to the legislature actions to be taken on behalf of children and…

Examined are recent legislative initiatives related to the problem of adolescent pregnancy and parenting. A 50-state survey was conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and each state's legislative research agency provided information on bills and acts from the 1986 and 1987 legislative sessions, as well as programs and…