Describes the nature and availability of proceedings under the North Carolina Juvenile Code and points out the relevance of some code provisions to school personnel. Reports that most states follow the same basic procedures and that certain difficult issues in juvenile law are present in all states. (MLF)

This report documents the extraordinary crisis facing Florida's public schools and provides evidence that Amendment 9--a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes--is a cost-effective and invaluable first step to rebuilding its troubled public schools. The report also sets the record straight about the long-term benefits of investing…

This study examined whether charter schools, in states where they now enroll at least 5,000 students, are more or less segregated than their public school counterparts, also noting racial/ethnic guidelines in the current state charter legislation. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics 2000-01 Common Core of Data were collected on…

This paper presents an historical study of the creation of the first publicly funded "colored school" in Marysville, California, in 1857, focusing on the community's efforts to open the school. The colored school was part of a dynamic Black community full of economic and social vitality, yet was in a time period in which Blacks still…

In New York City and state, charter schools are slowly gaining momentum through performance that speaks for itself, and with quick action by authorizers and charter advocates when schools fail. But as the New York charter experience should demonstrate to districts and states nationwide, meeting the urgent need for systemwide improvement is far…

The Early Childhood Development Communique articulated a commitment to increasing positive outcomes for children from birth to age 6 in Canada. Noting that owners and boards of child care programs are charged with providing a quality service to young children and their families, this discussion paper articulates the owners' and boards'…

Since 1873, Maine has financed the private school education of thousands of K-12 students. This lets parents in towns without traditional public schools choose from a list of approved private and public schools, enroll their children, and have the town pay the tuition up to an authorized amount. The town receives full or partial reimbursement from…

In 1998, California passed Proposition 227, which severely restricted the use of primary language for instructing English learners, calling for a 1-year transitional program of structured English immersion. Researchers examined the effects of Proposition 227 in districts and schools statewide during the first year of implementation. Data from…

The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) is required by state law to report to the governor and legislature every two years on the status of Washington's state-level reciprocity agreements with Idaho, Oregon, and British Columbia. Reciprocity agreements allow some Washington students to attend public colleges in other states and pay lower…

Developed in collaboration with representatives from 20 national health and education organizations, this handbook provides guidance to help school district personnel navigate the many and at times conflicting legal considerations connected to managing student health information. This resource will assist all school officials in developing and…

In June of 1998, Proposition 227 was passed by 61 percent of the California electorate. Intended to change how the state's English learners (ELs) are instructed, Proposition 227 required that ELs be taught "overwhelmingly in English" through sheltered/structured English immersion (SEI) programs during a transition period and then…

School officials see a need for regulations that prohibit disruptive and inappropriate forms of expression and attire; students see these regulations as unwanted restrictions on their freedom. This paper reviews court litigation involving constitutional limitations on school authority, dress and hair codes, state law constraints, and school…

Designed for individuals with disabilities and their families, this handbook (in both English and Spanish versions) provides information about vocational opportunities in Idaho and how they may be accessed by young adults with disabilities. Topics addressed include: (1) work related and individual and family supports; (2) types of adult service…

Many states have found that financing public schools through local property taxes is unlawful under their state constitutions; as a result, they must consider using state tax revenue as the primary source of local school-district funding. The recent California experience provides a sample of political economic behaviors used to respond to the…

This report describes individual state projects under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) that are addressing the needs and barriers identified by citizens with disabilities. Systems change activities are described under the following topics: (1) changes through policy and legislation; (2) changes…