Previous research involving adult survivors of CSA (childhood sexual abuse) indicates that approximately 77% of CSA victims did not report the abuse while in childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine CSA disclosure in childhood. Participants for this study were 137 children/adolescents ranging in ages from 2-16 interviewed at a child…

Massachusetts has reason to be proud of its record since landmark education reform legislation was passed in 1993. The state scores first in the nation in 4th and 8th grade English and math on NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress), the "Nation's Report Card." On international assessments, Massachusetts students lead their…

Each edition of the IDRA Newsletter strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on Fair Funding and includes: (1) Fair Funding of Texas Schools is Even More Critical in Tough Economic Times (Albert Cortez); (2)…

The Massachusetts Coalition for Bilingual Education, made up of various organizations, worked to obtain passage of the first state legislation mandating and providing funding for bilingual education. (RC)

A sampling of a dozen states showed that virtually all of them have interim committees on education. The diversity in structures and issues among these committees is summarized. (Author/MLF)

Discusses the background, philosophy and provisions of the Model State Subsidized Adoption Act, which makes appropriate adoptions possible, through public subsidy, of children who might not otherwise be adopted because of special circumstances (handicaps, race, age). (ED)

Discusses some of the unethical and illegal practices uncovered in Oregon last spring when schools asked photographers for cash rebates and "free" services in return for requiring seniors to patronize a particular studio for graduation pictures. (RB)

This document describes the 1987 Wisconsin Act 287 which concern providing family leave and medical leave to employees. The background of the law is described in the first part of the document. The second part of the document describes the family and medical leave act. These topics are covered: (1) basic provisions of family and medical leave,…

The plight of the chronically mentally ill is discussed in this document. Chronic mental illness is defined as producing major impairments in functioning for an extended period of time. It is noted the chronically mentally ill are expected to negotiate a bureaucratic maze to receive help. The history of treatment of the mentally ill is traced from…

This report explains the procedure for terminating parental rights and discusses related issues, including grounds for termination, consideration of the child's best interests, and procedural safeguards for the rights of parents. Emerging issues of interest to state legislators are examined. An analysis of involuntary termination of parental…

Punitive damages have been permitted in certain cases to deter wrongdoers from similar conduct in the future. The Supreme Court decision in the case of "Smith vs. Wade" set the standard for the award of punitive damages by permitting punitive award on varying standards of negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, or other culpable…

The minimum legal drinking age in Illinois was returned to 21 effective January 1, 1980. To examine the effect of this change on accident involvement by young drivers, data from the last 3 years of the lowered drinking age (1977-1979) were compared to the first 3 years of the restored drinking age (1980-1982). Data were obtained from the Illinois…

The author replies to a criticism of an article of his which appeared in a previous issue of the journal. The criticism of Arnstine's article precedes the rejoinder in this same issue.

State laws that legalize bargaining by professors have been a major stimulus for rapid growth of collective bargaining among college professors in recent years. Describes that development. (JF)

A supplement to National School Bus Minimum Standards contains standards that refer to equipment that must be part of the bus body or part of the chassis of a bus used to transport school children to and from school in Alaska. Standards of "activity" buses that are used to transport school children to and from authorized school…