Presents guidelines to be used when legislation which would expand existing early childhood programs for young children or create new programs is being considered. The categories for these guidelines include provisions for program standards to ensure quality programs; parental access and involvement; service eligibility; interagency linkages and…

In North Carolina, a legislative researcher recommended the removal of occupation-specific courses from high schools. Sixteen hundred people attended the hearings and legislators heard almost unanimous testimony against the recommendation. The recommendation was shelved. This article describes how the response came about. (JOW)

A discussion of the pharmacist's responsibility in child abuse prevention looks at the need and methods for introducing the topic in pharmaceutical education and how to recognize and report the problem. The scope of child abuse and the ways in which it is dealt with are also discussed. (MSE)

Examined implementation of California's mandate that the simple difference score distribution model be used as part of state Learning Disability eligibility criteria in six California school districts. Results revealed that placement decisions were influenced by students' discrepancy scores, but that prereferral status (initial evaluation versus…

This comprehensive overview of state and federal legislation concerning gifted education demonstrates that the primary source of law relating to gifted students is at the state level. Several administrative appeal decisions have been made in Pennsylvania. Litigation to expand entitlement based on federal law has been less successful than…

Indiana spent more than $100 million in past three years on Prime Time, program to reduce class size in the primary grades. Data show that in classrooms with 18 to 22 students, the atmosphere is less hectic, teacher morale is higher, instruction is more individualized, and students (particularly those at risk) are better achievers. Includes five…

In 1984, Texas law mandated that each principal, supervisor, and superintendent in the state attend training in general management, instructional leadership, and teacher appraisal. This article describes the three phases of Lubbock's Effective Teaching/Supervision Model, focusing on Phase I: Instructional Leadership. (MT)

Recent state appropriations for higher education in Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont are tabulated. Governors in all those states signed spending bills for higher education. (MLW)

Suggests that in the past 20 years major shifts in federal government policies have taken place which have increased state control over mental health programs to the detriment of local communities. Identifies and discusses the major factors responsible for these changes. (Author/BH)

The legislative history of legislation concerning disclosure of standardized college admissions test items is reviewed, the effect of existing laws in California and New York is outlined, and public policy and legal questions leading to and resulting from the legislation are discussed. (MSE)

The Texas Supreme Court ruled that students' rights to participate in extracurricular activities were not on the same level as rights to free speech and found that the state law barring failing students from extracurricular activities was rationally related to a legitimate state interest in educational quality. (PGD)

Examines the idea of establishing a merit pay commission within a school system that would have the authority to make merit pay decisions independent of school administrators. Presents the philosophic and legal issues associated with installing such a commission. (MD)

South Carolina has enacted a comprehensive act that contains more than 40 new programs and a comparable number of improvements in existing programs. Cites 26 elementary school reforms that will be phased in by 1989. (MLF)

Presented is the history of the Scottsboro case, in which eight Black men were found guilty and sentenced to death for raping two White women in Alabama. At the heart of the Scottsboro trials was the issue of whether the U.S. Constitution established standards of justice in state criminal trials. (RM)

Describes organization and services of Subscription Television Inc. (STV) and 1964 legal battle over wired pay-per-view television in California. Included are discussions of reasons for voter opposition to pay television, likelihood of success for STV had voter referendum not passed, and effects of its failure on subsequent pay television…