This issue memorandum describes Constitutional Amendment A, an initiative in South Dakota that, if approved, would prohibit taxation of real property for school purposes. The report provides background information on Constitutional Amendment A, which reads as follows: "The legislature shall make such provision by general taxation as with the…

The Wisconsin legislature has required the Department of Public Instruction to adopt or approve standardized tests for statewide use to measure student attainment of knowledge and concepts in grades 4, 8, and 10. Although school districts generally gave high ratings to the contents of TerraNova (McGraw Hill), the testing instrument most recently…

In the 1996 and 1997 Massachusetts legislative sessions, several of Boston's key business leaders became active child advocates in alliance with more traditional advocates and other civic leaders, convincing public policymakers to create and fund several initiatives benefiting children. This working paper presents reflections on successful…

This is the sixth report presenting projections of spending for the Minnesota State Grant Program as required by state law. The Legislature recognized that many economic uncertainties influence the estimation results and strengthened the projection process by mandating a monthly statement on spending and updated quarterly projections. Another…

This description of how the State of Virginia revised its minimum standards for licensed child caring institutions shows how involvement of personnel in all steps of the process of regulation can change resistance to acceptance. (DP)

Describes the issues in an Illinois court case brought by school districts who claim the State is holding back appropriated school funds from one fiscal year to the next. (Author/DN)

Faced with a December deadline imposed by the State's highest court, New Jersey's legislature will soon convene in an extraordinary special session to consider a controversial proposal for changing the State's system of financing public education. Discusses that proposal and the current system for school finance. (Author/JF)

The author discusses some guidelines to use for determining child custody in divorces, including the Michigan Child Custody Act of 1970. (RP)

In this article author discussed data on child abuse and neglect and analyzed several policy suggestions for alleviating the problem. (Author/RK)

The question of who has the legal responsibility for providing educational services to American Indians and how this responsibility is reflected in policy is discussed. (FF)

Provides a brief historical overview of the social implications of homosexuality and supplies data suggesting that homosexuality is much more widespread than many are prepared to believe. (WM)

The Family Court of New York has both abilities and limitations in handling child abuse cases which should be recognized by professionals concerned with child abuse. (DB)

Discusses legal aspects of collective negotiation in States that have no comprehensive statutes regulating public employee collective negotiation. (JF)

Deals with the public employer-employee bargaining relationship in States where there is no comprehensive scheme for regulating that relationship. Points out the legal issues that arise in such a relationship and the difficulties to be avoided in resolving those issues. (Author)

Discusses Ohio's experience with public employee collective negotiation in the absence of comprehensive statutes governing such negotiation. (JF)