Legal points school officials must consider before conducting student searches are reviewed. Some courts have viewed school personnel as agents of the state, subject to all Fourth Amendment limitations. Most, however, have tended to support the doctrine of in loco parentis, permitting some searches on grounds of less than probable cause. (PP)

Offers an overview of the school-based decision-making councils in the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 and takes a brief look at a lawsuit that unsuccessfully challenged the authority of councils. (MLF)

Reviews political science literature on changing state politics. A statistical analysis focuses on the relationship between changing legislative structures and higher education for all 50 states. Presents a case study of Pennsylvania that suggests a possible causal relationship between changing political structure and limitation of public…

Examines three aspects of legal treatment of blood relationships in the adoption process: (1) ability of relatives to participate in adoption proceedings; (2) how courts evaluate blood relationships in determining best interests of the child; and (3) rights of relatives to continued contact when a child is adopted by nonrelatives. (Author)

Summarizes and provides a quick reference to information from papers and participant discussions from the Symposium on Graduated Driver Licensing held November 5 - 7, 2002, in Chatham, Mass. (Contains 14 references.) (AUTHOR/WFA)

Reports the results of a quasi-experimental evaluation of the effects of the California English-only law on public librarians' acquisition policies and attitudes toward books in Spanish for children and young adults. The results, which showed no effects, are interpreted in terms of the symbolic functions of legislation and public policy. (seven…

Wisconsin's statewide apprenticeship program is a model school-to-work transition program. In one cooperative endeavor, juniors and seniors work part time at local businesses and attend community college classes two days a week. After testing their community's receptivity, administrators should form a steering committee to target occupational…

A survey of 269 Montana pharmacy managers investigated the impact of a new law allowing pharmacy technicians to perform some duties previously restricted to pharmacists and interns. Managers were questioned concerning attitudes toward job responsibilities that might be delegated to store clerks, pharmacy technicians, and student interns, and plans…

Educators from five states describe how state department initiatives and state legislation have affected staff development, noting how staff developers have influenced and responded to those efforts. (Author/SM)

President-elect Bill Clinton's ambitious education program involves development of world-class standards in mathematics, English, and science; increased federal funding for Head Start and Chapter 1 programs; an overhaul of the student loan program, creation of a national apprenticeship program; and radical decentralization of schools. Sidebars…

The majority of funds for the development of educational technology programs should be spent on computer software and teacher education with emphasis on technology as a process for developing effective instruction. The development of technology-based solutions can help resolve the educational crisis in elementary, secondary, and higher education…

Evaluates and explains the major revenue sources available to California school districts to finance school construction. Advises districts to develop partnerships with cities and counties to ensure adequate funding for school facilities. (MLF)

A literature-based model of the legislative politics of policy innovation is examined in light of Minnesota's experiences with the school choice issue. A revised model, reflecting case-study findings, is presented. The leadership area is identified as the arena where lawmakers can exert leverage on restructuring public education. (SLD)

Under the Kentucky Education Reform Act, Kentucky has redesigned curricular policies and instructional practices and has set in motion a process for restructuring teacher education by defining new standards for effective teaching and new requirements for certification. Guiding principles to prepare a teaching force able to implement school reform…

In Austin, Texas, an urban district where more than half the students come from low-income families, the annual dropout rate has gone down, and the scores on statewide standardized tests have gone up. A key element in the turnaround is state-mandated, site-based management, a system that decentralizes decision making and involves strong leadership…