Examines several state supreme court cases that bear on school finance litigation in Illinois. Suggests that the Illinois plaintiffs have an opportunity to establish a new litigation strategy. When school finance schemes are challenged on the basis of educational quality, courts have the opportunity to define a basic standard of education that…

Discusses the Montana Supreme Court's declaration that the Montana system of financing education was unconstitutional as it relates to emerging legal principles drawn from federal school finance court challenges. Speculates on future directions in state education finance equity litigation. (54 references) (MLF)

Disagrees with Ferraraccio's views and argues that: (1) students do bring illegal weapons to school; (2) metal detectors do detect weapons and help schools to disarm students; (3) disarming students reduces the threat of violence; and (4) courts have repeatedly approved the constitutionality of weapon-related suspicionless student searches…

An analysis of recent judicial decisions shows that the adequacy concept emerging from state courts' invalidation of school finance systems transcends minimalist education standards and focuses on "world-class" standards and ambitious, universal student outcomes. Instead of challenging per-pupil expenditures, courts are questioning…

Examines effectiveness of court challenges to education-finance systems in achieving need-driven educational equity, focusing on California, Kentucky, and Texas. Provides overview of education-finance litigation and goals of finance reform. Describes funding system in each state both pre- and post-litigation; uses statistical measures to discuss…

Designed to give students in grades 5 through 12 information about the Minnesota court system, this document provides teachers and students with the necessary background materials to study Minnesota's courts. Rather than an introduction to all law, the document is limited to the function and operation of the courts. The curricular materials cover…

This paper examines legislation, court decisions, and state and local policies affecting the use of corporal punishment in schools, and speculates on the particular context presented by small or rural schools. There are no universally applicable federal statutes dealing with corporal punishment in schools. Decisions by the Supreme Court and…

During the 1930s and 1940s, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) devoted much time trying to improve educational opportunities for African-Americans within the existing segregated school system. The teacher salary equalization movement began with a series of successful cases in Maryland. This paper examines how…

The United States Supreme Court has to date decided four major cases dealing with curricula or the rights of students. The Court (1) declared unconstitutional a law that prohibited instruction in evolutionary theory, (2) upheld the right of students in school to express their views on controversial subjects, (3) extended protection under the…

In October 1989 the Texas Supreme Court declared the public school finance system unconstitutional in "Edgewood ISD (Independent School District) v. Kirby" and required implementation of a new system by September 1, 1990. Four special legislative sessions resulted in the enactment of SB 1, which revises the school finance system and…

Public school districts that have new policies establishing minimal competency programs that consequently deny some handicapped students a standard diploma have been subjected to litigation. Legal decisions are discussed, addressing, first, the question of fair standards and, second, the fairness of the procedures for administering new graduation…

Courts have been reluctant to interfere with the decision-making authority of local school boards. However, a reduction-in-force (RIF) decision can be legally challenged by a discharged employee with evidence that the school board has either: (1) acted arbitrarily or capriciously, (2) failed to comply with procedural mandates, or (3) utilized…

A review of the problems of vicarious liability of parents for their children's vandalism to school property reveals that in all states parents can be held responsible if it can be established that the vandalism was the reasonably traceable result of lack of supervision or misdirected parenting. Almost all legislatures feel it is appropriate to…

During the 1970s, courts repeatedly overruled acts of administrative censorship of high school publications, even when the publication in question included "earthy" language or attacks on school officials. The trend toward expanding students' First Amendment rights began in 1969 with the "tinker" ruling, which reaffirmed the right of three…

This paper takes a brief look at how several courts have interpreted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, generally known as Public Law 94-142, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, generally referred to as Section 504. The questions under consideration include the right of an individual to sue under 94-142 and 504; the definition of the…