This policy brief reports on an analysis of the legislation establishing charter schools in the 19 states that had such legislation as of December 1995. It identifies provisions in the state legislation which specify anti-discrimination policies and clauses, the inclusion of students at risk or students with disabilities, fiscal provisions,…

Despite its long history, accountability in education means different things to different people. There is little consensus about how to apply the concept intelligently and creatively in schools. This fastback explores various issues inherent in the concept and practice of accountability, as applied to public education. The issues include…

State legislators across the country have responded with new efforts to change the authority and practice of the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Since 1992, 48 of the 51 state legislatures (including the District of Columbia) have made substantive changes to their juvenile justice laws. This report presents the first comprehensive analysis…

Since 1989, citizen-generated ballot initiatives have appeared in several states. Common to several of these initiatives have been questions dealing with the funding of elementary, secondary, and higher education. The focus of these initiatives has shifted to how much the public is willing to pay for education. This project examines the causes…

This document consists of three years (12 issues) of a quarterly newsletter that addresses the healthy development of children of divorced and separated parents. The National Council for Children's Rights (NCCR) (now the CRC, the Children's Rights Council, Inc.) advocates reducing divorce by strengthening families through divorce and custody…

This instructor's manual contains seven units for a course to prepare students to pass the Wisconsin Commercial Driver's License test. The units cover the following: (1) introduction (rules and laws); (2) vehicle inspection; (3) transporting cargo safely; (4) transporting passengers; (5) air brakes; (6) combination vehicles; and (7) introduction…

In 1991, Minnesota enacted ground-breaking legislation that authorized school districts to sponsor a limited number of charter schools. Implementation of the program was politically contentious, and the issue remains highly charged. This document presents findings of a study that examined the charter schools that were proposed and operating in…

By the late 1980s, 28 states in the United States had instituted lotteries as a supplemental means of financing public education. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the claim that state lotteries enhance spending for public education. Regression analysis, conducted on data for the year 1987, compared lottery and nonlottery…

Noting that most school-based health care is provided at the secondary level, this report provides background and a rationale for implementing such services at the elementary school level. The first section of the report addresses several questions about school-linked health services, including: what are school-based health centers, why should…

This guide to education for gifted students in Arizona begins with a rationale for providing special services for high potential students. It then discusses the gifted student, screening and identification, the teacher, programs and services, financial assistance, resources, and parent involvement. In each of these topic areas, the guide outlines…

This guidebook is designed to assist concerned Michigan citizens, local governments, conservation organizations, landowners, and others in their efforts to initiate wetlands protection activities. Chapter 1 focuses on wetland functions, values, losses, and the urgent need to protect wetland resources. Chapter 2 discusses wetland identification and…

States are in the leadership position to effect pervasive and comprehensive changes needed in the educational system. There exist five key dimensions for analyzing initiatives resulting in systemic changes: (1) infusiveness, building upon existing knowledge; (2) pervasiveness, effecting improvements in all key components of the system, including…

In September 1991, the National Conference of State Legislatures surveyed the legislatures in 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to identify priority issues for the 1992 session. The survey covered almost 1,000 issues in 18 topic areas. This report of the survey results includes sections on each of the following topic areas: (1)…

This paper examines legislation, court decisions, and state and local policies affecting the use of corporal punishment in schools, and speculates on the particular context presented by small or rural schools. There are no universally applicable federal statutes dealing with corporal punishment in schools. Decisions by the Supreme Court and…

Through a synthesis of ongoing case studies covering over 500 schools, this report highlights the story of school reform in the Chicago Public Schools (Illinois) at the elementary school level. The analysis draws on a case-study syntheses of field research over the past 3 years, new analyses of survey data from principals and teachers, and…