School officials see a need for regulations that prohibit disruptive and inappropriate forms of expression and attire; students see these regulations as unwanted restrictions on their freedom. This paper reviews court litigation involving constitutional limitations on school authority, dress and hair codes, state law constraints, and school…

Designed for individuals with disabilities and their families, this handbook (in both English and Spanish versions) provides information about vocational opportunities in Idaho and how they may be accessed by young adults with disabilities. Topics addressed include: (1) work related and individual and family supports; (2) types of adult service…

Many states have found that financing public schools through local property taxes is unlawful under their state constitutions; as a result, they must consider using state tax revenue as the primary source of local school-district funding. The recent California experience provides a sample of political economic behaviors used to respond to the…

This report describes individual state projects under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) that are addressing the needs and barriers identified by citizens with disabilities. Systems change activities are described under the following topics: (1) changes through policy and legislation; (2) changes…

The nature of Federal and state initiatives with respect to multicultural education is examined, and guidelines and standards for the preparation of school personnel are reviewed. Federal initiatives have focused on preschool, elementary, and secondary education, and states have generally followed the Federal lead through state grants to implement…

This update provides information about the Nebraska Statewide Writing Assessment follow-up, the federal reporting of assessment information, and preparing the school District Assessment Portfolio. The information is intended to assist local educators in the reporting of local assessment information in June 2001. The update on the writing…

In 1995, the Arkansas Early Childhood Education (ECE) Framework was developed to shape and guide quality programs in early childhood education and to guide children through a successful transition to a kindergarten curriculum based on the Arkansas K-12 curriculum frameworks. This guide, organized in three sections, presents the original ECE…

This guide for Colorado educators and other school personnel is intended to help define child abuse and neglect and develop appropriate policy and training programs. Sections address the following topics: identifying child abuse and neglect; identifying physical abuse; identifying neglect and emotional abuse; identifying sexual abuse; responding…

This monograph offers information and resources to help school districts build the capacity to transform professional development. Part 1, "Ohio's Professional Development System," discusses the transformation of professional development in Ohio and explains what professional development is. Part 2, "Requirements and…

The "A+ Accounts" offer parents and concerned citizens a new way to invest in a child's education from kindergarten through 12th grade. Under this plan, families, single parents, or anyone earning less than $95,000 annually ($150,000 on joint tax returns) could deposit up to $2,000 per child in after-tax income into interest-bearing…

This report provide commentary and recommendations by the Kansas State Legislative Educational Planning Committee in regard to several areas of postsecondary education. It recommends the introduction of legislation to change the professional scholarship programs administered by the Kansas Board of Regents to make them more consistent; supports the…

This bulletin provides guidelines to Missouri educators concerning inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district-wide assessments of school achievement as required under Missouri's Outstanding Schools Act and the reauthorization of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997. It stresses the greater focus on…

This document is comprised of the three "Voices for Illinois Children" newsletter issues published during 1999. Voices for Illinois Children is a child advocacy group that works to make kids "count" in Illinois and to ensure that the basic needs of all children, families, and communities are met. These newsletter issues explore…

Students should know their rights and liberties, and they need to be better informed and better equipped about how to assert and defend these precious things. The protectors of students' rights and liberties--those faculty, administrators, parents, alumni, friends, citizens, advisers, and attorneys who care about such vital matters--should…

In the United States, education is not only free and public, but it is compulsory in all continental United States and in its principal outlying parts. The aim in this study is to present in a summary manner what appear to be the most interesting legislative features of compulsory education systems in the various States: (1) When did the States…