Recent studies showing the need for improvements in the educational system in the United States have resulted in strengthening of academic requirements, upgrading of standards for promotion, and increased course loads in high schools throughout the country. Pennsylvania is no exception to this trend; the passage of Chapter 5 legislation, which…

Established by the state legislature in 1980, the Oklahoma Citizens' Commission on Education (OCCE) aimed to evaluate the state's schools and prescribe goals for its future educational system. This report presents OCCE's recommendations and background materials. The first section comprises OCCE's 42 recommendations and statements, with supporting…

The report presents findings from a 2-year evaluation of the implementation of Chapter 766, the Massachusetts comprehensive special education law. The evaluation included 10 substudies of issues related to special education. Most of the findings contained in the final report are based on coordinated case studies of 15 school districts and on a…

Since the 1960s, the number of strikes by public employees, especially local government employees, has increased, and the number of employees belonging to unions or associations has about tripled. Recently, attention has been focused on strikes by public employees as a result of the strike in 1981 by air traffic controllers and their subsequent…

Most teachers and the public believe that children in kindergarten and the primary grades benefit from small classes because of children's need for individualized instruction and teacher attention. This report, part of a comprehensive policy study of early childhood education, presents a review of the research on the effect of class size on…

This paper examines the development of Alaska's Public School Fund, its current status, and its potential as a major revenue source for elementary and secondary education. The fund, which was created following the 1915 federal school lands grant to Alaska, is examined for the 1916-58 territorial period, the 1959-78 early statehood period, and the…

"Postsecondary education" emphasizes open admissions, remedial and mastery education, career training, and lifelong learning. It charges low tuition and attracts both full-time and part-time commuter students. It is offered at proprietary schools, public and private two-year colleges, vocational-technical schools, trade schools, and…

The handbook is intended as a reference to rights of handicapped children and adults as defined by federal and state legislation. A section on education makes up a major portion of the document and includes information on the following areas: definition of handicapped children, early childhood, visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical or…

Although enrollment is one of the bases by which the state funds its segments of higher education, different assumptions and calculation methodologies exist between the California State University and Colleges and the University of California in determining the enrollment statistics reported for budgetary purposes. The state legislature therefore…

A selected summary is provided of the Iowa state legislation relating to area schools and standards for area community colleges and vocational schools. Part I contains the specific chapters (280A and 286A) of the Code of Iowa that pertain to area vocational schools and community colleges. Chapter 280A deals with the organization of school and…

Competency testing legislation is the result of citizen pressure and lacks the benefit of careful deliberation by professionals. Hastily passed legislation has forced state departments of education and school districts to accept their duty to implement competency testing programs without the appropriate resources. Many of the basic problems of…

The success of Proposition 13 in California gave impetus to similar tax limitation efforts in other states. Information included in this booklet is intended to help local, state, and federal education finance policy-makers wrestling with this issue. The first section summarizes efforts in each state to limit taxation and expenditure both by…

The report of the Board of Educational Finance (BEF) of New Mexico, which was required by House Memorial 15 (1978), and which describes programs and operations of two-year postsecondary institutions in the state, is divided in to three parts. Part I provides information on types of doctoral, masters, baccalaureate, and subbaccalaureate programs at…

In this handbook, the relationship of education to the United States Constitution is described for the benefit of students and their parents. Legislation, funding, and the decision-making process are examined as they relate to the public school system. Legal rights of students and parents with regard to many controversial issues, including…

Financial viability in postsecondary education is considered as part of the Postsecondary Education Core Design Project sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics. Financial viability is defined within the scope of postsecondary education, and key policy issues at the national, state, and institutional levels are identified.…