This report discusses the 2023-24 Accomplishments and 2024-2025 Priorities and Ongoing Responsibilities for the departments of the New York State Education Department: (1) Office of Counsel; (2) Government Relations; (3) Finance; (4) Public Affairs; (5) P12 Instructional Support; (6) P12 Operational Support; (7) Higher Education; (8) Adult Career…

Given that work-based learning (WBL) can -- and should be -- a key driver of student career readiness in these efforts, it is essential that all states have a robust work-based learning continuum of experiences and exposure that spans K-16. WBL is an essential element of career and technical education (CTE), and ExcelinEd's CTE Playbook series…

Several years ago, the Legislature adopted significant amendments to the basic conflict of interest statute for local elected officials, primarily in the area of financial thresholds, but also in the area of scope of enforcement. This is an important area of the law for board members and superintendents, so a current and thorough knowledge of the…

The "Brown v. Board of Education" Supreme Court's unanimous decision (1954) held promise for many African American children and youth. Sixty years after "Brown," racial disparities in school discipline have garnered national attention in the professional literature. This article extends the post-Brown discourse beyond the…

The ebook ecosystem has experienced many changes recently--having both positive and negative effects for the school library. On the positive side, many publishers have stopped seeing ebooks as the coming of the Apocalypse; instead, they are seeing that the publishing business survives and, indeed, flourishes. The different actors in this arena are…

Since 1966 when we began our careers in special education, we and others in our cohort have seen substantial changes in our discipline. In our personal experience, we had the opportunity to work together in situations that led us to focus on practices and procedures that produced better outcomes for our students, and better outcomes for students…

Even as they struggle to climb out of deep financial holes, states are facing lawsuits that contend they do not meet their constitutions' requirements to provide sufficient funding to districts and fail to provide resources for disadvantaged schools and student populations. This article reports on legal battles in Texas, Colorado, and elsewhere…

The potential benefits of OER have led many European governments to implement policies supporting their creation and use. This chapter aims to put these OER policies in context, discussing their focus and scope and highlighting challenges and bottlenecks. On the basis of the analysis of the current state of the art, it is argued that one of main…

Describes the use of video surveillance for school security, includes when to use video cameras, the features of video cameras, reasons not to use video surveillance, and legal issues. (PKP)

Extrapolates from existing case law on educational testing to the likely ways in which school accountability systems may be challenged in the courts. Also offers a list of recommended actions for accountability system developers. (SLD)

In "San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez" (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Texas school finance system did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment and that education was not a fundamental right deserving of strict judicial scrutiny. This paper discusses various school financing schemes recently challenged in…

The article examines the concept of "appropriate" educational programming as mandated under P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. A description of the approaches to the question in effect before the Supreme Court's decision in the case of the Board of Education versus Rowley begins the article. The effect of the…

Addresses the question of whether it is legitimate to make multiple copies of computer programs for class use. Considers "fair use" in schools, liability of libraries, copying of programs in computer-aided instruction networks, and other areas. (JN)

U.S. Solicitor General Kenneth W. Starr has asked the Supreme Court to abandon the Establishment Clause it formulated in "Lemon v. Kurtzman" (1971) for cases involving governmental accommodation of religion in civic life. Starr's "amicus curiae" in "Lee v. Weisman" questions the clause's persistent tendency to…

Describes four legally sensitive scenarios involving student access to the Internet and recommends appropriate strategies to assist principals in reducing exposure to legal action. (PKP)