Noting that 182,000 of Wisconsin's children are living below the poverty line, this report documents factors affecting the working poor of Wisconsin, combining labor market and wage data with profiles of families and their children from communities throughout the state. The report documents the surge in poverty-wage jobs in Wisconsin over the past…

The Center for Public Policy Priorities supports HB 2574. Why encourage school districts to offer free meals to all students? The link between adequate nutrition and improved academic performance creates a clear incentive for Texas to increase participation in the school breakfast and lunch programs, particularly among low-income children.…

Traces origins of present-day creationists from their 19th-century fundamentalist beginnings, focusing on past and current objections to the teaching of evolution and efforts to require the teaching of creationism in public schools. Discusses creationist arguments and strategies to accomplish their aims. (JN)

Describes contributions and efforts of New York law firm (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, Flom) personnel in developing plaintiff's case in McLean v. Arkansas 590 (balanced treatment of creationism/evolution). Discusses aspects of "Pro Bono Publico" (unpaid public interest service) endeavors in general and those related to this law firm in…

Discusses basic errors (confusions) in creationist's viewpoint, confusions about religion and the formal structure, methods, and canons of science. Reviews theological testimony in McLean v. Arkansas 590 (balanced treatment of creationism/evolution), indicating that the logic of plaintiff's case was directed at such confusions in and "scientific"…

In enacting federal age discrimination legislation, Congress has not preempted the ability of the states to afford more protection to employees from forced retirement than the federal act provides. States with and without age discrimination laws and other sources of law are briefly discussed. (MLW)

Provides an annotated bibliography of materials from the ERIC system that highlight major policy issues in providing remedial/developmental education within higher education, as well as studies that have measured the effectiveness of these policies. (YKH)

Discusses the reversal of the ruling in the custody case of "Ireland vs. Smith." Points out that initially Jennifer Ireland lost custody of her daughter solely because she placed her in family day care while she attended college classes. Examines the case as an illustration of a judicial bias against out-of-home child care and working…

Frustrated by the federal government's new approach to desegregation of public colleges, states are taking steps to help more minority students persist and succeed in higher education. Conflicting court rulings over race-conscious desegregation remedies have added to the confusion. The most extensive state proposals are in Maryland, where public…

The 22-member Commission on the Academic Presidency has examined the present higher education governance system in a context of rapid and substantial change. It found the presidency significantly weakened, particularly in the public sector, and has recommended a reform of shared governance and the president-board relationship. Key recommendations…

Illinois tort policy has swung from supporting the sovereign immunity of school districts, to completely striking down sovereign immunity, to narrowing conditions in which districts and employees could be liable. Advises Illinois and other states with similar problems to develop legislation and court precedents to reduce the complexity of tort…

Discusses legislation aimed at prevention, identification, and treatment of prenatal exposure to controlled substances and the consequences of such exposure. Coercive state intervention can include involuntary civil commitment, child protection; and criminal prosecution. Such intervention raises constitutional issues of privacy and…

Court decisions in two cases concerning the University of Nevada at Las Vegas's suspension of an athletic coach because of institutional violations of National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations are discussed, focusing on the courts' applications of state action doctrine (subjection to scrutiny under constitutional law) and coercion…

Describes to experience of one of professor D. Nakanishi's graduate students, who with others, lobbied the California State Legislature on Nakanishi's tenure denial at the University of California Los Angeles. Describes Nakanishi as a teacher and mentor and links the tenure struggle to the Asian-American community's political development. (JB)

The effectiveness of indirect incentive grants by California on school district spending was investigated by using state data to document the impact of the incentives under Senate Bill 813 (1983). Incentives appeared to be more effective in directing spending toward direct instruction than other grants. (SLD)