Describes background for school-to-work effort in Massachusetts, the state's design and implementation of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) of 1994, the local impact of the state's STWOA grant, challenges to making school-to-work a top priority of state education reform strategies to improve student achievement, and state and local…

The Kentucky constitution's intent was to found a free system of common schools. Historically, local support for Kentucky public schools has left much to be desired. Taxpayer reluctance to support schools through local property taxation is exacerbated by state legislation overtly discouraging this approach. Efficiency is, therefore, impossible.…

Reviews changes in the Texas public school finance system since a 1989 Texas Supreme Court decision declaring the system unconstitutional. Preliminary analysis of two funding scenarios shows movement toward greater equity. Horizontal equity progress may be partially negated by new provisions addressing taxpayer equity. Program adequacy…

A Wisconsin law that forces students to attend school before they receive welfare money may impact Blacks and other minority students disproportionately. The "learnfare" program reduces the payments received by families receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children for truancy and dropping out. (FMW)

Local bookstore owners charge that the selling of best-sellers and trade books unrelated to coursework by community college bookstores violates California's education code. The decision was not based on free-speech grounds but on the language of the state code. (MSE)

Implementation of the Illinois Educational Reform Act of 1985 in local school districts during the year before and the two years after its passage was studied through an analysis of school board meeting minutes. Policy questions about the place of school boards in the educational reform movement are raised. (SLD)

Shows how a grassroots, interracial coalition is working to restructure Chicago Public Schools. Under the new Illinois legislation, Chicago's present school board will be disbanded, teachers will be hired by merit, principals will lack tenure, and education rebates to facilitate school choice may be available. Includes three references. (MLH)

Observations of children ages birth to five years were collected in seven states before and after implementation of legislation requiring use of passenger safety devices. Among results were observed increases in safe seating for children ages one-five in four of the five states implementing legislation during this study. (JW)

Reviews eight situations that have legal implications concerning child abuse for child care directors. Also notes some new state laws and trends concerning the definition, reporting and handling of child abuse cases. (BB)

While working to reconcile developmentally sound curricula and instruction with district and state requirements, faculty at a Dalton, Georgia, primary school were hindered by mandated standardized tests. Since uncovering several negative aspects of such testing, faculty have been struggling to teach a developmental and test-driven math program…

Ohio's experiences in the areas of "voluntary" certification, mandatory scope of bargaining, remedies for refusals to bargain, grandfathering, mixed-motive discharges, and clear-and-present-danger strikes have been troublesome. However, the state's experience with agency shop agreements and deferral to arbitration has been sound. (MLF)

Hawaii is the only state that addresses school inequities with a comprehensive, statewide system legislating the same educational opportunities for all students. This system is rooted in the Hawaiian monarchy's prestatehood practices and beliefs. Hawaiian schools are strongly multicultural, boast many Japanese teachers, and are uniquely organized…

This article calls for proactive accountability in education in order to identify effective educational practices and appropriate expectations for student results at different grade levels. A proposed plan of action urges civic leaders to champion proactive accountability concerning knowledge about effective educational practices, to target state…

An American Association of University Professors report on faculty workload uses federal data to refute perceptions that faculty spend too little of their professional time on teaching. Faculty are faulted for biased public opinion. Recent Ohio legislation mandating larger undergraduate teaching loads is also criticized by professors for its…

State legislators who consistently challenge higher education on one or more issues are seen as both allies, for bringing issues to the forefront, and as foes, for their sometimes strident criticism. Many such legislative critics focus on accountability vs. autonomy. (MSE)