Reaffirming Reagan administration policies on education and educational reform, the author proposes three priorities and four performance goals for American education over the next five years focusing on literacy, mathematics skills, civic instruction, the "five new basics," standardized test scores, dropout rates, and professional…

The government is now cooperating with higher education in an effort to reduce unnecessary intrusion and red tape. Aims include: (1) having a single federal agency collect all the data from the campus; (2) reduce the total number of forms; and (3) eliminate the collection of data that is not really used. (Author/LBH)

The role of higher education's Washington representatives in dealing with the widening arena of government/academy relations is discussed. Emphasized are the changes the associations have undergone and their growing political sophistication. (LBH)

That college and university boards should have a policy on trustee conflict of interest is nearly universally accepted. Yet there is little consensus among institutions on just what the policy should be--and broad national consensus anytime soon is unlikely. Boards thus face a host of questions, many of which this document addresses, regarding…

This white paper examines the roles that various levels of government play through legislation, policy, and other initiatives that support quality alternative education programs to reconnect youth to education and the workplace. It raises issues for policymakers at all levels to consider in facilitating the development of expanded alternative…

This document is intended to provide guidance to schools in the discipline of students with disabilities in compliance with regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Chapters address the following topics (sample sub-topics in parentheses): (1) basics of discipline under Section 504 (common mistakes districts make when…

This handbook describes parent educational rights mandated under federal rules and regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including the amendments of 1997 (IDEA), and the Bureau of Indian Affairs/Office of Indian Education Programs special education eligibility document. Each main topic is preceded by a box that contains a…

This reference guide outlines what is new for educational programs under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. It also describes how the NCLB's four guiding principles--(1) focus on what works; (2) reduce bureaucracy and increase flexibility; (3) increase accountability for student performance; and (4) empower parents--are brought to bear…

The purpose of this guide is to help citizen advocates create and improve the environmental practices of industry and government in the Great Lakes Basin. The practices advocated focus on pollution prevention instead of relying solely on pollution control. An introduction examines the larger issues of pollution prevention and zero discharge as the…

This brief presents an overview of findings from a U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) study that investigated how the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) affected the ability of schools to maintain a safe environment conducive to learning. A study surveyed 272 public middle and high school principals…

The "Student Financial Aid Handbook" explains the policies and procedures required for institutions of higher education to administer federally funded student financial assistance programs properly. This volume clarifies a school's responsibility with respect to Stafford and PLUS loans. These loans are offered through two delivery…

The "Student Financial Aid Handbook" explains the policies and procedures required for institutions of higher education to administer federally funded student financial assistance programs properly. This volume describes student financial aid programs administered at the state level. Students must meet state eligibility criteria to…

This testimony about how federal requirements affect local school districts focuses on three major issues: (1) the major federal requirements that affect school districts; (2) the issues school districts face in implementing these requirements; and (3) recent initiatives by the Congress and the Department of Education (DOE) to provide flexibility…

The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides over $1.5 billion in benefits annually to children and adults in day care. In order to address the longstanding problems of fraud and abuse present in the program, state agencies have been charged with the responsibility for implementing Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) regulations to prevent and…

One of the most controversial issues in contemporary education policy--school choice--plays a prominent part in the newly revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA 2001) legislation. In fact, ESEA 2001 provides support for public school choice through a number of provisions, including the Innovative Programs, Public Charter Schools…