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…

This article describes the development of training materials for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and discusses statewide systems efforts to promote self-determination. The materials, developed by Florida agencies, are designed to enable individuals and family members to envision and realize choice, inclusion, and…

Summarizes the results of a survey of state library agencies regarding the degree to which they encourage and assist public libraries in the use of "Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries" and "Output Measures for Public Libraries," tools that are the accepted standards for planning and performance measurement. (LRW)

Discusses how three states are implementing the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, focusing on Massachusetts' Common Core of Learning, Delaware's First Schools in the First State pilot curriculum project, and Oregon's Initial Mastery and Advanced Mastery certificates. Notes that one of the aims of Goals 2000 is to make states true laboratories of…

Behavioral definitions are provided for the following four basic values that drive state educational policymaking: (1) choice; (2) efficiency; (3) equity; and (4) quality. How these values are distributed by the priorities of policymakers is discussed and illustrated through examination of the values of Illinois and Wisconsin. (SLD)

Although the New York State reading assessment was aimed at identifying children with extra educational needs, one study shows that the current high-stakes nature of the tests has distorted that intent. Rather than rewarding instructional quality, state accountability profiles often reward questionable instructional practices such as retention in…

Describes the development of the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL). Membership parameters are described; voting representation and governance is discussed; the organizational structure is explained; funding is examined; and factors contributing to the success of NAAL are considered, including a mix of short- and long-term goals and…

Characteristics of enrollees in the Michigan Education Trust, an advance tuition payment plan, during its 1988 and 1989 open enrollment periods are examined and compared with those of the state's general population and the 1988 entering class of freshmen in its public universities. (Author/MSE)

Discusses a few of the causes for less-than-optimum educational uses of the Internet. Highlights include problems with state-level plans; the fear of pornography and Web censorship; the location of computers in computer labs; unrealistic overvaluing of standardized tests; and the current poor quality of Web pages. (LRW)

As states begin mandating induction-year programs as part of teacher preparation and certification, three issues have surfaced: the lack of consistency in definitions of mentoring among stakeholders, both between and within states; the need for the development of appropriate and effective models of mentoring; and the need for adequate funding to…

Examines changes in the 1994 reauthorization of Title I that shift flexibility and accountability to local schools and explores implications of these changes for the 1999 reauthorization. Congress will need to determine whether the structure of the Improving America's Schools Act is adequate to bring about educational improvement for all students.…

Reports results of a survey of states concerning state provisions for mediation to settle disputes in gifted education. It finds that 21 states have such provisions at either the state level or as a local option. Advocates for gifted education are urged to publicize the availability of mediation services and encourage staff development in its use.…

This article reports on the descriptive results of a national survey of statewide parent-to-parent programs. Results are summarized concerning demographics and organizational models; program components, supports, and services; matching referred parents with veteran parents; and technical assistance provided to local program coordinators or…

This study indicates dramatic increases in the number of states using data from students with disabilities on school participation, exit, and achievement in their accountability systems and in the number of states with guidelines on the use of assessment accommodations. States seem to have changed little in knowledge about student participation…

Describes the efforts some states are making to regulate online colleges that lack accreditation. The problem is complicated by the fact that if a state takes a tough approach, the institutions can easily change mailing addresses to obtain degree-granting licenses in other states. Describes some of these colleges and some of the accrediting…