Argues that for a community to maintain control over its public schools it must make the school board accountable for the performance of the school and all of its employees. The authors suggest a new approach to school-board elections, addresses key elements needed in state legislation, and explains the existing roadblocks to change. (GLR)

Superintendents in 153 cities with populations of from 50,000 to 100,000 were sent questionnaires asking information about school board members. Responses from 89 superintendents provided information about 597 board members. Findings indicate that whether or not board members receive pay has little effect on the makeup of school boards. (MLF)

Compares the Florida Educational Reform Act of 1983, a teacher merit pay program, with similar programs in other states and countries. Studies the reform's inception, implementation, and decline, using the concepts of coalition-building, fiscal support, and various work arenas (legislative and executive, administrative, professional organizations,…

Environmental, cost-benefit, and regulatory reasons for colleges to have a comprehensive consumption and waste management program are offered, and elements in a policy statement on recycling and resource use are outlined, including encouragement of precycling, reduction of use of disposable products, separation of recoverable and recyclable…

Reviews developments in the law regarding student affirmative action in college admission and financial aid, and reflects on the growing trend toward state referenda banning preferences based on race and gender. (Author)

A survey of students in 125 randomly selected public high schools in Kentucky revealed minimal student involvement in school decision making. However, 77% of respondents would like to be involved. Principals surveyed closely supported students' views. Recommendations for principals and school councils are discussed. (MLH)

Analyzes six issues collectively addressed in school-finance-equity rulings by the supreme courts of New Jersey, Vermont, Ohio, and New Hampshire: responsibility for public education, court jurisdiction, constitutional definitions of an efficient/thorough education, district funding levels, state education-finance systems, and property-tax/funding…

Project Horizon, Utah's statute to reduce the economic and social cost of recidivism, shifted funding for correctional education to the state education agency. Parolees who participated in Project Horizon had an 18-20 percent lower recidivism rate than nonparticipants and found post-release jobs 89 percent of the time. (JOW)

Argues that immunizations are the most powerful and most effective way to prevent childhood infectious diseases. Presents immunization rates in Missouri and describes recent state legislation adding tetanus and pertussis to required immunizations for school attendance. Identifies factors contributing to Missouri's low preschool immunization level.…

Shares a letter the author (a professor emeritus of Language Arts education) wrote to her state assembly member in California in response to legislation, based on a very limited definition of reading, that imposed the use of phonics on school districts. Notes that the letter can serve as a model for other educators to respond to their legislator.…

Relates the history of restriction of access to the Aid to Dependent Children and Aid to Families with Dependent Children programs. Examines how intrastate and interstate policies affected the enactment of work requirements for aid. Shows that intrastate politics had the greatest effect, but that policies spread among states in similar situations.…

Examines on a state-by-state basis the degree of support for counselor legislative efforts offered by other mental health professionals. Looks at three dimensions: collaboration in creating counselor licensing or certification, collaboration in passing a counselor licensing or certifying bill, and legislative support for including counselors in…

The "boys will be boys" era is over. Districts must take two basic actions to establish schools that are free of sexual harassment: publish a written policy and provide training for students. This article explains California Code and Federal law requirements, the value of special curricula, and the need for maintaining confidentiality,…

Explores legislative conditions that promote charter-school autonomy, applying a conceptual framework of autonomy to assess variations among state charter-school policies. Results suggest that state policies offer different self-governance levels and thereby influence charter schools' innovative ability and performance potential. Variations are…

Looks at the current federal job training and workforce development structure and suggests that they have many problems. Also describes reforms passed by several states, notably Texas. Suggests that partnership between public and private sectors is crucial to develop and maintain a system that meets everyone's needs. (JOW)