This study is the third annual study of primary program implementation in Kentucky elementary schools. This research project is one of six studies conducted in 1995 to determine the extent Kentucky schools and educators had implemented educational technology. In June, 1990, the Kentucky legislature passed the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA),…

Research has indicated that educators view class size as a factor in improving student learning. This publication summarizes findings about some recently implemented class-size initiatives. It highlights results from Tennessee's reduced class-size experiment of the 1980s; summarizes the efforts and results from other recent state-level initiatives…

The 1995 South Dakota State Legislature enacted a new state aid to education formula. This memorandum is designed to provide background information on the formula. The repeal of the formula in existence at the time and replacement with a different formula was the product of several factors. Some of those factors were: (1) the inclusion of a new…

In March 1994, Michigan voters approved a ballot proposal that used a mixture of state and local taxes to fund the K-12 educational system. This document presents a comprehensive review of the issues affected by the reform. The enacted K-12 school-finance reform package made a major change in the way state aid was distributed to local school…

The draft Master Plan was developed in response to requirements of the New Jersey Higher Education Restructuring Act of 1994. The plan proposes a vision and broad policy recommendations for New Jersey higher education into the next century. The focus of the plan is on the critical needs of the state and how higher education can help in addressing…

The rise of parental responsibility statutes creates tension between the state's duty to respect the integrity of the family and the duty to protect children and the best interests of society. Yet, there is an ever-growing belief that something must be done to reverse the trend of juvenile crime. Parental responsibility laws have emerged as an…

It is difficult to estimate the percentage of examinees who pass National Teacher Evaluation (NTE) tests because many users of the tests require that examinees pass different combinations of tests or use different passing scores for each of the tests. This study first develops a taxonomy of state NTE requirements and then computes passing rates…

In response to widespread demands for better public education and for more choice among public schools, a number of state legislatures in the early 1990s permitted educators and local communities to develop "charter" schools. This report presents the first-year findings of the National Study of Charter Schools, sponsored by the U.S. Department of…

Money to operate Washington's public schools comes from state, local, and federal sources. For the 1995-96 school year, total combined revenue exceeded $5 billion. The largest share of Washington's operating budget is devoted to K-12 education. This paper portrays critical features of Washington's school finance system. It first examines current…

This study explored the efforts of shared decision-making teams (SDM) that were created by a state mandate and charged with improving student achievement in New York state. For example, under the mandate, a shared decision-making team composed of representatives from the administration, the faculty, and parents must be present in each public…

This document provides 11 extracts from Alabama state law and federal law concerning state implementation of federal public library programs under the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA). These extracts are titled: (1) "Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) State-Administered Program (34 CFR Part 770)"; (2)…

The results of a 1992 nationwide survey of state regulatory agencies that are presented in this report serve to update information on the licensing of family day care homes that was gathered in 1991. Terms relevant to family day care are defined; commonly asked questions about family day care are answered; and regulatory requirements for family…

The effects of drug and alcohol use by pregnant women which concern state policymakers are discussed in this booklet. Topics discussed include: (1) the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on infants and children, as well as the effects on children of drug use by mothers during pregnancy; (2) initiatives aimed at helping these children; (3) women…

This document presents information needed for development of contractual or cooperative arrangements between local school districts and other agencies and programs in Kentucky in order to better serve preschool children who are at risk of educational failure or who have identified disabilities. After an introductory section, the Preschool…

This monograph is the third in a series of reports, that provide a state-by-state review of current school-finance policy issues. It analyzes the link between the policy issues and education finance at the national level, in 31 states, and in the province of Ontario, Canada. The report is subdivided by geographic region. Part 1 contains reports…