Historical trends and current policy toward education for gifted students in Australia is reviewed. Current efforts in each of the Australian states are summarized. (DB)

Virginia--the only state in the nation to bar school board elections--recently cleared the way for elected boards. Recounts the history of school boards in the state. A map illustrates the 19 states that allow both elected and appointed school boards, according to local option. (MLF)

Knowledge of, compliance with, and attitudes toward mandatory child abuse reporting were studied for 216 elementary and secondary school teachers in British Columbia (Canada). Teachers were aware of the law's existence but not its particulars. The tendency to report abuse varied as a function of the type of maltreatment. (SLD)

As state legislatures have become increasingly involved in establishing educational policy, state boards' authority has diminished. Presently, there are no clear demarcations between rule making and implementation. Most state boards handle administrative and regulatory tasks rather than policymaking. Cumbersome and expensive to operate, state…

Explores the legal status of public school teachers' wearing religiously distinctive clothing in the absence of specific state prohibition. Analyzes the effects of laws prohibiting teachers from wearing religious clothes and argues for the abolition of religious dress statutes. (40 references) (MLF)

During 1985-86, 3,523 students took advantage of Minnesota's Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEOA); 6.52 percent attended private colleges. In 1987, suit was brought challenging the constitutionality of PSEOA, alleging it violated the First Amendment establishment clause and the Minnesota State Constitution. This article examines this case…

State legislation regulating the relationship between student-athletes and agents is examined with regard to their legislative histories and effects on athletes, agents, and institutions. The views of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), an athlete-agent, and a former intercollegiate athlete are reviewed, and promotion of such…

The possible negative and positive effects of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's regulation, intended to monitor coach income and improve institutional control of programs, are examined. Legal effects under state open-records laws are outlined, one case is reviewed, and the regulation's practical effects are summarized. (MSE)

California Senate Bill 620, "Healthy Start," was sponsored by Governor Pete Wilson as the centerpiece of his prevention-focused initiative for children. The program involves schools in community partnerships to restructure children's services. The first projects were funded in 1991-92 with a $20 million appropriation. Key concepts and…

Surveyed social workers in Texas to determine (1) if they treat those who have been sexually exploited by psychotherapists and (2) if they are aware of recent state legislation regarding this issue. Results show that Texas social workers do work with victims of sexual exploitation and that education for social workers concerning the legislation is…

A recent Thomas B. Fordham Foundation report rated California Mathematical Standards first among the states and ahead of Japan. There was nothing in the midcentury precollegiate mathematics curriculum that is irrelevant today or not required by competent schools. A national mathematics curriculum is reflected in the nation's standardized testing.…

Contains papers exploring diversity of expression at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley, after the legislated end to affirmative action in admission. Papers are (1) "What Ever Happened to J. S. Mill?" (Nick-Anthony Buford); (2) "The Unprofitable Monopoly" (Heather McCormick); and (3) "Quibbles about…

If a charter-school act permits too much freedom from state regulations, it may create private schools ineligible for state funding. In "Council of Organizations about Parochiaid v. Governor," the Michigan courts ruled on levels of state control necessary for charter schools to be considered public. At least 13 states would fail the…

Analyzes survey data from randomly selected schools to investigate Oregon educators' attitudes toward mandated reforms, forces shaping these attitudes, and resultant changes in educational practices. Teachers' attitudes toward systemic reform over a 5-year period may be characterized as ambivalent and their behaviors as compliant. Workload was a…

After the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in favor of reimbursing 84 plaintiff school districts for special-education expenses, the governor vetoed parts of the $304.6 million State Aid Act, including $250,000 for at-risk programs. Three November 1997 bills restored at-risk and special-education funding while "freezing" the foundation…