Since 1994, New Jersey's higher education system has been under a new governance system created by the Higher Education Restructuring Act. The act declares that eliminating unnecessary state oversight will spur institutional creativity and innovation and that placing greater decision making and accountability at the institutional level will better…

This training manual is designed to provide information that will help Missouri educators understand and implement new state requirements regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities in the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). It addresses the following topics: (1) reasons for including students with disabilities in a state assessment…

This document consists of the 11 issues of the Children's Defense Fund (CDP) Report published during 1996. Issues discuss concerns related to child advocacy and provide information on problems in children's lives in the United States. Regular sections in each issue are the editorial column "A Voice for Children," a status report on…

This report describes activities and findings of Project SEARCH, an on-going qualitative research project investigating the current status of policies regarding children with disabilities in charter schools. The project has involved a preliminary analysis of all current charter laws to examine the inclusion of students with disabilities and a more…

The formulation of effective compulsory attendance laws has been one of the problems confronting legislators and school officials for the past 70 years. The most marked advance in enacting such laws has been made since 1890. Prior to that date only 27 States and the District of Columbia had compulsory laws, and many of these were inoperative. Now…

State departments of health and education were asked to describe state laws, regulations, legal opinions, and guidelines concerning the dispensation of prescription medications to students in school. State laws and policies dealing with liability risks, persons who can give medicines, and drug management procedures are reported. (PP)

South Carolina's Educator Improvement Act, a recently enacted teacher minimum competency testing measure, is described. The act mandates testing of basic skills and subject matter knowledge of college students planning to teach, and observational assessment of the performance of teachers and student teachers. Testing provisions are discussed. (PP)

A new California law, Senate Bill 813, implies sweeping changes for teacher education in that state. The law permits districts to hire college graduates without teaching credentials and train them. It also requires all teachers to renew certification periodically. Implications for schools of education are discussed. (Author/PP)

Provides an overview of state-mandated minimum competency testing programs. Describes the potential impact of competency testing on the school counselor. Proposes actions counselors might take to protect student well-being and counselor functions from misdirected regulation. (RC)

Three possible avenues for the future of teacher education are: (1) continue current practice and risk diminishing public confidence and teacher quality; (2) allow state legislation to improve teacher education programs; and (3) combine a more rigorous selection and preparation process in professional schools of education with extended periods of…

Details cooperative agreements to finance new schools drawn up by growing school districts in Colorado and the corporations whose activities are responsible for that growth. The developers of an oil shale project and a tract housing project lent school districts money under very favorable terms. (JM)

Explains a new approach by creationists to pass state legislation which supports their philosophy yet sidesteps the issue of separation of church and state by avoiding direct mention of God, the Bible, or Divine Creation. Warns of the ramifications of such legislation to science education and general education. (DC)

Reviews the purposes and findings of a nationwide study of state directors of two-year college systems conducted to measure the current status and future directions of statutory and administrative agency policies affecting potential community college and public school coordination and cooperation with respect to lifelong learning. (DMM)

Employment rights of the handicapped are examined in this collection of symposium papers. Addressed are: procedural aspects of plaintiff litigation, job relatedness and bona fide occupational qualification doctrines, plaintiff's private right of action, arbitration, insurance, state fair employment legislation, and federal and constitutional…

The status of programs serving students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) was investigated via questionnaires completed by 144 SLD teachers in Virginia. Findings raise serious questions concerning instructional intensity and scope in addition to procedural issues related to compliance with federal and state regulations. (Author)