In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court directed schools in 30 poor urban districts to adopt a comprehensive school reform program by the 2000-2001 academic year. Part of this program involved delegating resource-allocation decisions to the school level, thereby increasing schools' effectiveness and productivity by bringing the perspectives of…

Aspects of family law changed by the impact of constitutional doctrines are reviewed; included is discussion of marriage, divorce, child custody, parent/child relationships, and abortion and contraception. (MP)

Concludes that federal courts subpoena reporters less often and uphold subpoenas less often than do state courts. (FL)

Reviews the contractual relationship between students and higher education institutions and discusses how courts have interpreted this relationship in deciding legal challenges to college catalogs. Recommends 12 guidelines to help colleges minimize their risks of breach of contract litigation. (Author/RW)

Examines the New Jersey Supreme Court's involvement in and subsequent withdrawal from the issue of exclusionary zoning. Holds that despite arguments to the contrary, the courts are necessarily a political institution and should take an activist role in social issues that concern people's needs. (Author/GC)

Examines a Connecticut case concerning the rights of a disruptive handicapped student in light of P.L. 94-142. (IRT)

In "Rockdale v Weil" the court declared that transferring a principal to a position with lower responsibility and prestige but higher salary was not a demotion and not subject to due process. (JM)

In "Smith" the California Supreme Court ruled that the University must provide a partial refund to students objecting to fees used for activities supporting a single political or ideological viewpoint. Surveys prior case law on student fees, agency fees, and integrated bar dues. Discusses "Smith's" impact and contends it should…

Cites four cases illustrating that college institutions and individual administrators who fail to take adequate protective steps or give adequate warning of risks may be liable, in damage suits, to student victims of subsequent campus criminal activities. (MLF)

Reviews 18 criminal cases decided by state appellate courts that have applied standards set forth by U.S. Supreme Court in "New Jersey v. T.L.O" which defined extent to which public school officials could constitutionally search students and their property. Contends Supreme Court made it possible for state courts to practically expunge…

State supreme court opinions between 1971 and 1991 were analyzed under a model framework that outlined state court school funding litigation, including jurisdictional, factual, legal, and judicial policy issues. (126 footnotes) (MLF)

The New Jersey legislature revised the school funding formula by eliminating $250 million in state aid over 4 years to 150 suburban districts and sending nearly $1 billion more to 30 less affluent districts. Contends that the method will ensure mediocrity and stifle innovation. Proposes three other funding formulas. (MLF)

An amendment to the Alabama constitution, adopted in 1956 in an attempt to absolve the state from maintaining a public school system, was declared unconstitutional in August 1991 by the Montgomery County Circuit Court. Discusses the political circumstances surrounding the case, the court's decision, and the future course of education finance…

Examines the issue of whether implementation of the Equal Access Act would violate the constitutions of some states that require a stricter separation of church and state than the federal Constitution. (MLF)

In the fall 1996 issue of this journal, Maxine Schmitz argued against the California Supreme Court's ruling in "Smith" that the University must provide a partial refund to students objecting to fees used for activities supporting a single political or ideological viewpoint. Annette Gibbs defends the "Smith" majority opinion.…