Describes several prominent early grades small-class-size projects and their effects on student achievement: Indiana's Project Prime Time, Tennessee's Project STAR (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio), Wisconsin's SAGE (Student Achievement Guarantee in Education) Program, and the California class-size-reduction program. Lists several conclusions,…

Examines the role that policies concerning curriculum, professional development, and mentoring in two reform-active districts played in shaping the experiences and concerns of two first-year language-arts teachers. Finds that the two districts served powerful roles as teacher educators, even if the first-year teachers are only dimly aware of…

Analyzes current and proposed federal and state civil laws to better understand their potential impact on children affected by domestic violence. Considers legislation and policy trends related to domestic violence, child custody and visitation, child protection systems, welfare reform, and immigration. (Contains 100 references.) (SLD)

Since 1990, 101 bills encouraging or mandating phonics instruction have been introduced in state legislatures; 28 have been enacted. Phonics bills tend to be introduced by Republican legislators and promoted by Christian Right individuals and organizations as the only spiritually and educationally sound reading instruction method. (Contains 129…

Reviews federal and state legislation affecting adult literacy education. Describes policy interpretation and implementation issues that affect the delivery of education. (SK)

Reviews 1997 school finance legislation, comparing legislative activity levels from 1994 to 1997. In 1997, 32 states passed legislation pertaining to capital-outlay funding, tax bases, and taxation for education funding. Half passed legislation for state aid, technology, special-purpose education, budgeting/fiscal management, and school personnel…

Examines the flexibility and accountability standards of the North Carolina charter school laws compared with the charter school legislation of Arizona and California. North Carolina's charter school legislation seems to have the flexibility charter school advocates would wish, with the necessary accountability requirements. (SLD)

School business administrators are devoting a significant portion of their time to retirement-related issues. Describes the retirement systems in place in Illinois and provides some budgeting examples for retirements and early retirements of school district personnel. (MLF)

School finance reformers may be riding a carousel with no destination in mind. Finance reform most often results in judicial rescue and legislative restraint. Certain states with invalidated school systems have remained in litigation for decades. Litigation and legislation alone cannot establish an inequitable, adequate public education system.…

Results of state-by-state study of unmet school infrastructure needs using multiple data sources. Found that aggregate unmet infrastructure needs of $266.1 billion were significantly larger than found in earlier studies and varied substantially among states. Suggests different short- and long-term funding strategies to address problem. Includes…

Results of study of impact of Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act on 25 school-construction project costs from 1992-97 and effect thereof on local school districts' taxes. All districts had higher construction costs and property taxes. Projects increased construction costs for the Commonwealth and recommends revisions in prevailing wage-rate law.…

Spurred by a state superior court deadline for developing a constitutional school capital finance system, Arizona Governor Jane Hull signed legislation (Students FIRST) that dramatically reformed school construction. This legislation created a School Facilities Board and established three funds for improving school conditions and meeting building…

Examines the effects of 1992 Tennessee school-finance reform legislation to remedy unconstitutional inequalities in state funding of local school districts, particularly small, rural school districts. Finds that while legislation reduced fiscal inequity among school districts, differences in student mathematics and reading scores remained…

A key component of crime deterrence is the certainty of detection, but in 2005 seat belt laws in 27 states prohibited law enforcement officers from ticketing an observed violation unless the driver is stopped for another offense, which is referred to as secondary enforcement. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have upgraded from…

Seeking to grasp what she called a "golden opportunity for rebirth" out of the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco asked the Louisiana legislature last week to embrace a plan that would give the state control of most New Orleans public schools. This article talks about the governor's plan to let the state…