A historical overview of the doctrine of equal pay for comparable worth is provided, related cases and legislation involving nurses and nonnurses are analyzed, and the implications of comparable worth for the nursing profession are discussed. (MSE)

In 1984, the Utah legislature enacted a career ladder bill encouraging all local districts to develop plans for restructuring teachers' compensation and promotion options. An independent, bipartisan taskforce then created a statewide, decentralized model that increases educators' power, minimizes merit and staff differentiation, and fosters…

Discusses Oklahoma's school finance legislation of 1981, designed to promote fiscal neutrality among districts and vertical equity for students while maintaining a partnership between the state and local districts in financing education. Proposes total commitment by Oklahoma to percentage equalizing, noting that the revenue potential exists. (PGD)

Reviews functions, growth, and performance of Indian national and public libraries and proposes a plan of action covering: administrative infrastructure, library legislation, library resources, resource utilization, depository libraries, resource sharing, public library clientele, role of private organizations, staffing pattern, financial…

The University of Texas' political response to a recent state legislative threat to reduce higher education appropriations by 26 percent and the roles of individuals in the effort are chronicled. (MSE)

The persistence of dangerous initiation rituals in student organizations despite administrative and legislative efforts to end them is examined. (MSE)

Discusses North Carolina's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws that are relevant to colleges (especially public) and elementary and secondary schools generally, and then applies ABC laws to typical circumstances of alcohol use on campuses. Examines civil liability for use of alcohol on campuses. (MLF)

The Nebraska community colleges have recently re-obtained local funding and control of their institutions. This article reports on the factors that contributed to their success in convincing the state legislature to relinquish its control. (DC)

Discusses ways educational planners can reduce school construction costs by sharing facilities with other public and private organizations, remodeling existing buildings, designing schools to accomodate other community needs, and utilizing innovative construction systems. Also examines some of the constraints imposed by state school finance…

There is little doubt that charter schools in California are starting to get more attention from both their supporters and their detractors. This report provides an overview of where charter schools stand today in California and the context in which they will either thrive or struggle in the years to come. It includes a quick look at the origin…

Another year of financial difficulty for the state of California led to the suspension of the minimum-funding guarantee that has provided some financial protection for schools in recent years. In a negotiation with education leaders Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger managed to craft the suspension in a way that protected education's interests at the…

The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires school districts in every state to publish and disseminate annual report cards with information on district performance. Schools are required to report similar information. These report cards must include not only information on overall student achievement, but also on the performance of…

This issue of "NERRC Focus" describes the activities of Vermont's Special Education Program and Fiscal Review Panel (the Panel), created by the Vermont Legislature in 1998, to study the delivery of special education and other support services in Vermont school districts. The Panel's primary goal has been to review the programs and…

In 1999, Illinois enacted its tuition tax credit law, which offers tax credits to taxpayers whose own children are attending school, as opposed to tax credits to businesses and/or individuals who contribute to tuition scholarship programs. Recent data suggest that the Illinois tax credit program is benefiting middle- and upper-class families more…