Notes the different labor acts and policies that create confusion over whether centers must pay staff for training time if such training is required by law. Also notes state variations on this matter. (MOK)

The Des Moines (Iowa) Public School System was one of the first to offer a cooperative home-school experience for interested parents. The district's Home Instruction Program, which now serves 310 students from 165 families, offers parents several choices regarding curricula, type of assistance, evaluation method, and dual (part-time) enrollment…

In 1989, the state of Texas implemented a broad initiative to improve instruction through using technology. A survey of teachers in the Fort Worth Independent School District identified four factors (time, training, technology availability, and teacher-type tasks) critical to technology integration. The district offers Trainer Institute, Bootcamp,…

Traces zero tolerance from federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 through state compliance and state board of education regulations to school district policy and guidelines in Virginia. Reviews Virginia case involving suspension of a middle-school student for having a paring knife in his locker. Reviews other zero-tolerance cases. Questions the…

South Carolina's state-mandated staff development initiative, the Physical Education Institute, emphasized how to teach high school student performance indicators. Researchers investigated factors that facilitated or hindered implementation of the performance indicators. Data from three schools indicated that lead teachers facilitated the extent…

Discusses waning political support for affirmative action in higher education in light of recent court decisions and the passage of California Proposition 209, focusing on the role of the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) in defending affirmative action. AAAA members note the need to explain the history of past discrimination to…

Although the Oregon Legislature has succeeded in creating a funding formula that equalizes per pupil spending, it is struggling with budgetary inadequacies. There is no dedicated funding source for schools, voters have enacted further property-tax limitations, and some schools have had to cut programs and staff every year. Nevertheless, Oregon's…

Discusses public-private partnerships in university construction, including Virginia's Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, and tax-exempt leasing. (EV)

Discusses policy implications of cyber (online) charter schools, including cost and control, standards and records, participation in special programs, and graduation requirements. (PKP)

Briefly describes the first 40 years of Title I of the Elementary Secondary Education Act. Describes significant changes in Title I under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, including school-choice options for students in failing schools, supplemental educational services for at-risk students, and the hiring of highly qualified teachers. (PKP)

The "Hazelwood" decision has moved the argument about student rights of freedom of expression from the courthouse to the statehouse. A growing list of states have considered legislation to restore students' rights, and a number of local school boards are also reaffirming the value of a free student press. (MLF)

Describes the implementation of a 1989 law that mandated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) education for Washington State health care workers. Makes recommendations for other states considering legislation and for educators and professionals involved in implementation of similar legislation. (JOW)

Examines the impact of specific court cases, current and potential legislation, and educational trends on the predicted "death" of special education in the year 2010. Focuses on Michigan, once a leader among the states in special education. (RS)

Some of the findings of the Victorian Review, a recent comprehensive review by an Australian independent commission of child welfare practice and legislation, are reported and summarized. The report concludes that a community approach to welfare should shape child protection, with judicial involvement a last resort. (MSE)

Examines implementation procedures for Ontario's Bill 82 on special education: identification of exceptional children, educational placement mechanisms, review processes, and parental appeal procedures. Suggests that Bill 82, while well-intentioned, actually legalizes inequality and categories of deviance and excludes exceptional children from an…