Executive and legislative branches of the New York State government have made consistent efforts to address the dropout problem, which is particularly acute in urban schools, through new initiatives and increased funding. State aid programs are summarized, and suggestions for improvement are provided. (SLD)

Describes the political struggles of the Teacher's Educational League in Buffalo, New York, and its founder, Mary A. O'Conner. Discusses the issues and problems women teachers encountered in attempts to reform teacher administrator relations. Traces the league's challenge to the Board of Education and the state of New York; explains that many of…

Arizona allows charters to be granted by local school boards, the state board of education, or gubernatorially appointed boards. Regulatory loopholes allow multiple campuses, private school conversions, and outside-of-district charters. Market-based choice depends on political support, a strong state government, and enormous parental and teacher…

The changing emphasis in teacher education from a theoretical perspective to a practical, performance-based perspective has forced teacher educators to revise and rethink their instructional techniques and styles. The Hearing Impairment Teacher Training Program at Eastern Kentucky University is currently being restructured in response to the new…

Precedents from litigation on state graduation assessments provide insight into the potential legal arguments challengers may raise with regard to mandated content and performance standards for all students. Clearly documented, fairly administered procedures that adhere to professional recommendations will be the hallmark of defensible standards.…

Education remains a top priority in governors' 1998 state-of-the-state addresses. Most governors favor increased school funding, dedication of some budget surpluses to new school construction and long-postponed maintenance and repair, and funding for technology. Many advocate early schooling, reading programs, smaller class size, school choice,…

Examines six state and federal legislative developments and related court cases that have shaped employment relations in public schools in the 1990s: state takeovers and reconstitutions, vouchers and tuition tax credits, charter schools, legislative efforts to restrict the scope of bargaining, elimination of tenure, and restrictions on the…

This article describes lessons learned in a case study of three high-poverty/racially mixed elementary schools in Louisville, Ky. An approach that included: 1) setting specific, measurable goals, 2) frequent monitoring of student work, and 3) applying distributive leadership elements enabled two of the schools to significantly decrease the…

Another Road to Safety (ARS) is a prevention and early intervention program of family support services for children who are at high risk for abuse and neglect in Alameda County, California, funded by Proposition 10 of the Children and Families Act of 1998. ARS is a collaboration between First 5 Alameda County's program Every Child Counts, the…

This research was conducted using a multi-case study analysis of four school districts in Western Pennsylvania. All four of the school districts were placed under the guidelines of the Educational Empowerment Act (Act 16) due to a history of low tests scores and poor student achievement. These school districts were also place on the State's…

Many federal laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, have enabled women and minorities access to the workplace. These same laws have mandated that employers prevent discrimination against women and minorities, yet when employers utilize various strategies for eliminating discrimination in the workplace, they have found themselves…

This report summarizes the key laws, policies, and regulations and current or persistent issues associated with Tennessee public education. Two major questions directed the inquiry: What were the principal educational policy developments in Tennessee in the 1980s and 1990s? and What major educational challenges and issues currently exist in…

Within the public elementary/secondary school systems of the United States there is tremendous diversity in educational funding provided by the federal government, states, and localities. An issue of intense interest to education policymakers is what influences the level and composition of state and local spending. This publication contains…

In 1995, Arkansas enacted two new bills that changed the way in which schools were financed. Act 916 required all school districts to levy a 25-mill tax based on an assessment ratio of 20 percent of use value on all property for maintenance and operation. The act also revised biennial appropriations for the State Department of Education,…

This report describes and analyses state support for higher education in fiscal year 1996. The report provides an analysis of funding trends nationwide; a national map showing percentages of 2-year gains for all states; a table showing appropriations amounts by state for the most recent 3 years as well as percentage changes; a table showing state…