This digest discusses two recurrent themes presented in the New Directions for Community Colleges volume titled "Organizational Change in the Community College: Ripple or Sea Change?" First, change in the external environment is accelerating, and colleges must respond to these changes to thrive. External environmental influences include…

A survey was conducted in Massachusetts to determine the effect of some welfare policy changes among families who receive public assistance and have experienced domestic violence. Interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 734 Massachusetts women who received welfare between January and June 1996. The survey found that one-fifth of…

As charter schools continue to gain momentum, trends are becoming visible. Some of the issues surrounding this reform movement are discussed in this policy brief. It examines charter schools in 12 states, offering an overview of what these schools are and how they work. Of the myriad forms that have emerged, their strength or weakness is…

This information memorandum describes revisions to laws relating to public libraries that were enacted in 1997 Wisconsin Act 150. The first section of the memorandum outlines the major provisions of the Act, including: county payment for library services; optional standards in plan of library services for county; report on library system…

This information memorandum describes the provisions of 1997 Wisconsin Act 298 relating to the creation of a Professional Standards Council for Teachers. This legislation was initially introduced as 1997 Senate Bill 364 by the Joint Legislative Council upon the recommendation of the Special Committee on Teacher Preparation, Licensure and…

While the concept of choice is not new to families able to take advantage of the available options, the idea of giving parents nearly total freedom in selecting their children's public school is new. Proponents of choice claim it results in higher test scores, fewer dropouts, and more involved parents. Critics maintain that there is no proof of…

The overall purpose of this study was to identify continuing education needs of family day care providers in Virginia. Specific objectives were to: (1) identify the most suitable method of provider training; (2) learn how providers usually obtain information about young children, what information they have found to be most valuable, and what they…

Racially motivated and/or targeted violence is a priority criminal justice issue for New York State. Racially motivated violence occurs when the perpetrator's intent or conscious objective is to injure a person or his property because of the person's racial identity. The following factors may explain the occurrence and recent increase in racial…

An analysis of Ohio's school choice options and the likelihood of their implementation from the conservative perspective is provided in this paper. The following issues are examined: conservative arguments for school choice; the extent to which conservative arguments are related to conservative movement themes; the extent to which conservative…

Many parents critical of public education have removed their children from public schools and are schooling them at home. Home schooling has generated a number of lawsuits. Controversies have arisen over the definitions of "school" and of "equivalent instruction," parents' qualifications to teach, and religious exemptions from…

This packet contains 14 consumer education guides concerning financial and legal issues for families at various life stages. The guides are especially aimed at persons living in Montana. The guides cover the following topics: (1) helping people to cope with financial crisis; (2) using a check register to track expenses; (3) individual retirement…

Economy of scale in rural schools and districts is associated with higher per pupil costs for educational programs and services of a quality comparable to nonrural schools. In 1990, Florida was one of 29 states that recognized higher per pupil costs associated with student population sparsity by providing additional revenues through its funding…

This document is one in a series that addresses issues of employment and dismissal matters in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This issue focuses on employment at will, which exists at the will of each party. At-will employees are employed for an indefinite term; either side may end the employment without the others' consent.…

Although at least one-third of U.S. high school students are employed, many parents, employers, and workers are confused or uninformed regarding the mix of federal and state laws that apply to young people in the workplace. This guide is a sourcebook on federal and state legislation that affects workers under the age of 18. It describes exactly…

This document is the second in a 5-year series of reports presented to the Prichard Committee, which monitors the progress of school reform in Kentucky. Three sections examine different aspects of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA)--primary school programs, school-based decision making (SBDM), and family-resource and youth-services centers.…