A growing number of private companies have emerged with the mission of providing educational services to public schools and districts. Partnerships between public schools and service companies, though not novel, only recently have become high-profile and prolific. Although welcomed by educational reformers, partnerships that involve outsourcing of…

On March 11-12, 2006 the FPRI's Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 44 teachers from 16 states across the country for a weekend of discussion on teaching about India. Sessions included: (1) Why It's Important to Know about India (Ainslie T. Embree); (2) Early Indian History (Richard H. Davis); (3) Modern Indian History (Marc…

This document is intended to provide a quick reference to the newly enacted statutes passed by the 2005 Legislature that affect K-12 education in Nevada. The document does not provide the specific details needed, in many cases, to carry out the requirements of the statutes. Each bill as enrolled should be referred to when specific wording and…

In 1987 a project was undertaken to assess the status of African Americans in the United States in the topical areas to be addressed by the National Research Council's Study Committee on the Status of Black Americans: education, employment, income and occupations, political participation and the administration of justice, social and cultural…

This paper presents an alternative view of shared governance within higher education institutions, examining the major problems encountered by institutions as they implement a shared governance model. Based on a review of the literature, it argues that shared governance, though increasingly popular in recent years, is an issue that should be…

This document was designed to help the California Legislature address long-term and short-term concerns in K-12 legislation. Part 1, which focuses on a suggested K-12 master plan, presents some preliminary conclusions from the governor's office about the role of the state in education. This section outlines governance changes since 1970 and…

The last 30 years of U.S. political history have seen dramatic strides in the impact that minorities play in U.S. politics. This first volume of a two-volume set addresses the historical and contemporary impact of two of the largest minority groups in the United States. Divided into two sections, the encyclopedia addresses the political struggles…

Offering 33 essays that represent the best in current reading instruction, this book offers detailed insight into key issues and topics in the teaching of reading, including phonics and word skills, reading strategies, miscue analysis, the use of literature, cultural and linguistic diversity, and the needs of special populations. After an…

This book examines the impact of school vouchers and charter schools on three urban school districts, exploring the causes of behaviors observed and explaining how the structure of competition will likely shape the future of public education. The book draws on case studies from three districts at the center of the school choice debate: Milwaukee,…

This collection of papers suggests that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in U.S. schools. It is based on a study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, focusing on accountability and equity to explore how charter school policies…

This document presents the transcript (and written statements) of a congressional hearing on the potential politicization of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the trustworthiness of the scores that the states received during the 1998 reading assessment. It addresses whether Vice President Al Gore's "release" of…

This paper discusses privatization of public higher education, noting that some form of it exists on almost every college campus and that it is part of the wider movement toward less government. Four models of privatization are defined: public production with public finance; public production with private finance; private production with public…

Higher education is undergoing a complex process of transformation at the international level. This transformation is based especially in the fields of policies and governance of higher education institutions. In Latin America this trend has been growing since the 1980s, and higher education is undergoing a strong modification in its processes and…

Who holds the ultimate authority for the education of U.S. children--teachers or parents? Although the relationship between home and school has changed dramatically over the decades, this book argues that it has always been a political one. The book also uncovers how and why the balance of power has shifted over time. Starting with parental…

This paper discusses the relationship between the political intentions of South Africa's educational policy and its educational outcomes, suggesting that the more learner-centered the curriculum and the lower the socioeconomic status of its recipients, the less likely it is to achieve its goal of social equity. The paper considers the proper…