Elizabeth Scott and Laurence Steinberg explore the dramatic changes in the law's conception of young offenders between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twenty-first. At the dawn of the juvenile court era, they note, most youths were tried and punished as if they were adults. Early juvenile court reformers argued strongly…

The Oregon Statewide Report Card is an annual publication required by law (ORS 329.115), which reports on the state of public schools and their progress towards the goals of the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. The purpose of the Oregon Report Card is to monitor trends among school districts and Oregon's progress toward achieving the…

This case study/philosophical analysis responds to the primary research question: "Should undocumented immigrants receive financial aid by responding to the sub-question: What does it mean to be a member of society?" The case study organizes and collects empirical evidence from stakeholders involved in Texas House Bill 1403 (2001),…

Following the approval of legislation that would divide the city's public school system into racially and ethnically distinct districts, many Omaha community members and leaders mid-April 2006 expressed a mix of outrage, confusion, and disbelief. In this article, the author discusses the measure that calls for dividing any school system in the…

A bill that has been sent to the floor of the California Senate would require textbooks used in public schools to include information on the roles and contributions of gay people throughout history, a move that could affect the content of instructional materials throughout much of the country. The measure would help build tolerance of diverse…

This report focuses on teenage drivers and drinking. The first topic discussed is youth accident experience. Vignettes of accidents are given, as well as national statistics on deaths involving teenage drivers. The next topic discussed is youth alcohol consumption. Statistics on percentage of youth who report using alcohol; comparison of…

This theme issue deals with adoption. "Adoption in Canada: A Profile," provides statistics on public and private adoption, as well as demographic characteristics on adoption applicants and children placed for adoption. It also discusses current adoption legislation. "Abandoning Ownership: A Philosophical Approach to Adoption"…

The reform bandwagon has brought about a glut of legislation under the term "education reform." Efforts to define this term have been unsatisfactory. A study by Flanigan et al. attempted to define the term education reform, but it discovered that each state had developed its own definition and program. This finding was a result of a survey sent to…

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the process of meeting a new state mandate for sexuality education programs at the local school system level. Curriculum coordinators (N=126) responsible for meeting the 1988 Georgia state mandate for sexuality education completed a survey instrument assessing the local school system process in…

The study examined the experiences of 12 school districts in implementing school-based program coordination in special education (sharing materials and/or staff among categorical programs). Two visits were made to each school district to determine plans and actual activities involved in coordination. Findings revealed: a relatively low level of…

Environmental impact statements are required for all projects undertaken by state agencies. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Resources issues permits for regulatory activities affecting the environment. Statements sent to a state clearinghouse are logged and reviewed. State Departments and regional clearinghouses review and comment…

Article 3.3 states that every school district that has one or more schools with 25 percent or more minority enrollment must provide its professional staff with 60 to 90 hours of inservice preparation in the history, culture, and current problems of diverse ethnic groups. (Author/IRT)

Presents an overview of the status of early childhood education in the United States in 1974. (DW)

The fourth annual summary of school crime data collected by California school districts, this report also includes a comparison of 1988/89 results with those of the three previous years. All of California's school districts completed reports for the fourth reporting period. Despite an article added to the California Constitution affirming…