Now, perhaps more than ever, communicating with legislators is essential to safeguarding the education profession and promoting the well-being of the children and families with whom teachers work. Yet, this task is not always an easy one, primarily because legislators and teachers work in different environments and speak different professional…

On September 27th, Maine finally joined 47 other states in allowing the use of the term "school psychologist" for those holding a masters or specialist degree. Furthermore, Maine has become the first and only state to write the NASP Practice Model into law, thus holding school-based psychologists to the highest professional standards.…

Parent trigger laws, according to their proponents, give parents power. Gregory McGinity, managing director of policy for the Broad Education Foundation, calls them "a way for parents' voices to be heard." Sounds good. But is the parent trigger concept a way to put parents in charge of their kids' education, or is it part of a political agenda…

Previous research involving adult survivors of CSA (childhood sexual abuse) indicates that approximately 77% of CSA victims did not report the abuse while in childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine CSA disclosure in childhood. Participants for this study were 137 children/adolescents ranging in ages from 2-16 interviewed at a child…

Enactment of Alaska's new Children's Code, a breakthrough in welfare legislation for children, was achieved after years of struggle involving professional and public forces. (Author/SE)

Since 1970 the early childhood task force of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) has worked to encourage states to focus attention on the quality of the life of children. As the task force explored the subject of child abuse, it quickly realized the need for: (1) better state programs for the prevention, identification and treatment of…

Explains the state legislative process and suggests ways in which children's advocates can work for passage of progressive child welfare laws at the state level. (BR)

Ten key elements and concepts in both Wisconsin's Chapter 115 and Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) are reviewed, and six areas which need examination in light of total programing efforts for special needs children are outlined. (SBH)

The 14 articles serve to promote interaction among Department of Public Welfare staff, judges, attorneys, and other persons or groups working in the area of child abuse and protective services in Texas and to clarify the law and procedure in this area. Included are the following titles and authors: "Perspectives of Child Abuse and Child…

The article illustrates how social change for individuals with disabilities can be made through the legislative process. The author recounts a four-year process that concluded with the passage of legislation for a preschool program for handicapped children supported by an appropriation of one million dollars. (Author/CL)

This pamphlet presents the concerns of child advocates related to the use of Kansas' portion of the Master Tobacco Settlement for improving the health and well-being of children and youth as legislated in 1999. This state legislation created the Kansas Endowment for Youth Fund (KEY) to receive the tobacco monies, the Children's Initiative Fund…

Uses the authors' experiences in Texas to suggest some strategies that teachers and parents can use to affect the state legislative process. (MP)

The article provides information to assist parent advocates in improving gifted education, suggesting that you should: know yourself and where you stand; know what you are facing; know the law; know who's who in the school system; and know when, where, and how to contact people in education. (JDD)

Presents recommendations for parents and educators who want to affect state policies and legislation for children. (MP)

Describes the way in which six major private organizations in South Carolina were instrumental in setting up three major welfare programs and in establishing a new state office of child advocacy. (GO)