Describes trends and developments that are influencing child day care. (HOD)

Michigan's legislature has approved the only statewide plan to allow parents to prepay their child's tuition to any of the state colleges, state universities, or community colleges. Prepayment may begin any time from the child's birth until his or her 18th birthday, and the money will be invested in a trust. (MSE)

Discusses the need for protection for social workers from charges of professional malpractice or violation of their clients' rights and recommends "good faith" immunity legislation. (HOD)

Describes how growing state occupational license laws that require passing examinations create a large demand for education. Reports on a study of the exam-preparation methods of applicants taking the California contractors' license examination. Sees a role for community colleges in preparing license candidates. (DMM)

The governors of the states of Tennessee, Utah, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas were interviewed on educational reform in their states. Their interviews show agreement in seven areas relating to educational reform. Presents excerpts from the interviews focusing on six questions. (MD)

Cites the importance of having a state law, knowing what it says, and having a library policy statement regarding the confidentiality of patron records. Discussion covers writing and implementing a policy, the role of automation, existing laws, library records defined, exceptions to confidentiality, and legal liability. Thirty-seven references are…

The costs and benefits of openness for governance of higher education are analyzed through a survey of state sunshine laws, relevant case law, state attorney generals' opinions, and interviews with a cross-section of individuals representing the range of openness. (MSE)

Gordon discusses the increasing role of state legislatures in addressing issues and passing laws regarding curriculum, testing, graduation requirements, and other areas with an impact on colleges and universities. Discusses the background and effects of the Gordon Rule in Florida, which establishes humanities, writing, and mathematics requirements…

Based on his experience as a youth planner, the author points out that the dysfunctional side effects of evaluation described by Ginsberg (TM 508 964) also apply to statewide efforts to deinstitutionalize status offenders. (BW)

Presents the findings from a 1985 survey of state legislation and school system policy on child abuse. All 50 states have statutes mandating that child abuse be reported, but there is great variation in how the laws are written and interpreted. Recommends three steps school boards should follow to establish effective child abuse reporting policy.…

Many states have changed education requirements by adding more course requirements. This should be seen as a challenge to offer better courses. A careful reading of the mandates may reveal that considerable local discretion is allowed in adopting new courses. Real excellence allows schools to translate new requirements into new ways to challenge…

The Florida Court decision reaffirms a state's right to impose a diploma sanction when competency tests are valid. Testing specialists now have a precedent for demonstrating curricular and instructional validity. Competency testing programs are a useful method for implementing instructional improvements. (DWH)

A national study surveyed (1) extent to which state and local programs serve the most in need, (2) less expensive nontraditional approaches to instruction, and (3) state regulations that act as barriers. Found that most of the efforts are in nontraditional settings, correspondence courses are successful and less costly alternative, and most…

A comparison of teacher dismissal cases in West Virginia and Pennsylvania concludes with recommendations for administrators: closely following procedureal protection provisions in termination proceedings; adhering to evaluation requirements in dismissals for incompetency; and evaluating teachers honestly. (MJL)

There is a trend toward more interstate uniformity of statutes with respect to curriculum; however, there are only three topics that more than half of the states have in common in legislated curriculum: alcohol and narcotics, the U.S. Constitution, and physical education. (JD)