Examined whether Michigan's elementary charter schools' expenditures differ from those of comparable-enrollment local districts. During 1995-96, charters spent an average of 57 percent of revenues on instruction and about 43 percent on support services, compared to 65 and 35 percent for comparable districts. Charters' administrative expenditures…

California's newly legislated Peer Assistance and Review Program will hopefully transform the state's teaching profession. PAR will serve as a catalyst for positive change in several areas: recognition of teaching as a lifelong developmental process; alignment of teacher development with standards; and creation of labor/management partnerships.…

The California Legislature has funded three programs to help beginning teachers enter credentialed programs or complete internship and induction programs. The Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program has three models: classroom teachers as support providers, full-time teacher release, and part-time teacher release. Benefits and drawbacks…

Taxpayer unhappiness with increasing property taxes have prompted changes to Wisconsin's school finance system. In the midst of providing property-tax relief, the new tax base structure remains intact and allows school districts to exceed their revenue limits with a majority vote in districtwide elections. Debate is ongoing. (MLH)

Describes the development and implementation of the Arizona post-tenure review policy, with particular emphasis on the Arizona State University experience. This policy had to balance the different expectations of the Arizona Board of Regents, the faculty, and university administration. Outlines communication strategies used in negotiations with…

Thus far, Florida's school funding system has withstood equity-based attacks. Florida's new, clearly defined accountability standards, coupled with newly strengthened constitutional wording regarding education, may succeed in persuading courts that "adequate provision" is not being met. The statewide voucher system may also attract…

Compares state funding for school infrastructure needs between 1993-94 and 1998-99. Found 164 percent increase in state infrastructure funding. Examines state funding mechanisms such as flat grants, equalized grants, categorical grants, and full-state funding. Fourteen states provide no state infrastructure funding; most rely instead on…

Legislators often try to identify barriers through committee hearings in which they seek the advice of those closest to a problem. For example, they might ask several superintendents to come before the committee to talk about barriers related to dealing with high school truancy. Or they might hear from district business officials about the…

A nationally watched showdown between the U.S. Department of Education and Utah state officials over the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act came down to a cliffhanger in the last days of the legislative session when a final vote on a bill that calls for state education laws to take priority over the federal law was postponed. The feud…

Despite Minnesota's reputation for quality child care, recent changes in legislation and the impact of changing needs have raised concerns about the quality of child care available in the state. This paper presents an overview of Minnesota's current child care system including structural indicators of program quality such as licensing standards,…

Now a growing number of Texas homeschoolers want to send their children off to class, if only a few hours a day. But as in other states, not all educators in the Lone Star State think students should be able to select just a course or two. A bill that would have encouraged schools to offer classes on an a la carte basis failed for the third time…

No state should be forced to make a Solomon-like decision between laptops and books for their students. Yet that is what appears to be taking place this year in Texas. The Texas state legislature has proposed a new law to outfit all secondary students with laptops at an estimated cost of $707.7 million over the next two years, according to Craig…

Twenty-three-year-old Cristina Moreno traveled from Spain to California for her honeymoon in 2000. As part of her visit, she rode the Indiana Jones amusement ride at Disneyland with her new husband. On June 25, 2000, she suffered a brain injury, and she eventually died on September 1, 2000, as a result of injuries allegedly sustained while riding…

For the last several years, Auburn University has been at the center of controversy over its governance practices. In April 2001, soon after the board of trustees abruptly fired popular president William V. Muse, representatives of the University Senate, the Student Government Association, and the Alumni Association jointly filed a complaint with…

This report, for the first time ever, provides a state-by-state breakdown of the key elements a policymaker needs in order to understand the legal environment for school choice in any given state--and to craft appropriate legislation to expand educational opportunity. This guide is intended to arm policymakers and advocates with the essential…