The guide is designed to introduce elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators to government documents and their use, provide background on the issue of bilingual education, and list relevant documents and publications as a basis for constructing educational programs for limited English-proficient students. The first major section…

This report reviews the major forces that have shaped the direction of teacher education reform in Oregon since 1983, focusing on Ballot Measure 5 which threatens state level funds for teacher education programs and on the impact of Workforce 2000 goals. Following an introduction, the document is organized into three sections: "Professional…

This publication offers an analysis of California families' need for childcare, and reviews policies on preschool in an effort to assist lawmakers in policy formation. The analysis discusses the history of childcare and child development programs in California with a view toward enhancing the future of young children and points the direction for…

In response to interest from the Higher Education Advisory Council and a mandate from the 1985 Minnesota Legislature, Higher Education Coordinating Board staff conducted a project with three major goals: (1) to assess and report on the uses of information technologies in Minnesota postsecondary education; (2) to initiate collaborative activities…

A specific legal model that would provide educational choice, called the "Scholarship Initiative," is cast in the form of a state constitutional amendment. The Scholarship Initiative provides a basic framework and point of reference for a legislative debate. Existing public and private schools could be converted into "public…

This report, which is the result of an examination of New Jersey's public education system, contends that the state has not been completely successful in providing an educational atmosphere free from sex bias. The report reviews federal and state legislation, and law, policy, and research in the areas of sexual harassment, teacher training and…

An analysis was conducted of state policies concerning the identification of gifted students, especially those traditionally underserved (the culturally diverse, economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities). Content analysis of each state's documents focused on six major areas: (1) legislation, (2) definitions of "gifted,"…

This report provides an overview of existing research, issues, programs, and initiatives that relate to coordinated education, health, and human services, with an emphasis on implications for Texas and the implementation of the America 2000 National Education Goals initiative. It discusses the often fragmented and uncoordinated nature of current…

The 1992 Washington State Legislature gave the State Board of Education (SBE), in conjunction with the Governor's Council on Education Reform and Funding (GCERF), responsibility for completing a review of certification policies to develop an outcome-based certification system for teachers. To accomplish this task, the SBE/GCERF Professional…

This paper describes the state of public education in Illinois in 1994. Over the last 3 years, the state has tried to improve its educational system, but continues to fall short of its goal. Attempts to produce economic efficiencies come at the expense of educational programs in rural communities while decentralization efforts in Chicago try to…

This report examines progress made as well as strategies and programs that promote the postsecondary education and employability of Florida's disabled citizens. Data suggest that less than 1.0% of university students in Florida are reported disabled, while 1.2% of students at the State's community colleges are disabled and 5.9% of school district…

The Education Commission for the States' model state legislation for approval of postsecondary institutions and authorization to grant degrees is discussed with regard to three Supreme Court cases on academic freedom, as well as several recent state court cases on the regulation of teaching in private postsecondary institutions. Constitutional…

This book of resources for autistic children in New Jersey is designed to be used by parents and professionals alike. The first section describes autism and provides a fact sheet, a chart illustrating signs and an explanation of diagnostic criteria. The second section describes the state's service system, with names of written service plans,…

This document lists recommendations for changes in laws, resources and programs relating to drug law enforcement made to the Wisconsin Special Committee on Drug Law Enforcement, as of August 25, 1989. Some of the recommendations are based on comments of Committee members, rather than persons testifying to the Committee. Each recommendation is…

When the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution requires public school principals to follow procedural due process in suspension and expulsion cases, the Justices recognized a link between procedural due process and the fairness of effective discipline. This report reviews the constitutional due process required when public school officials…