The charter-school movement radically changes the existing system, deeming it unrescuable. The superficial conceptual rationale for creating these complex new settings will engender implementation processes that practically guarantee charters' failure. Matters are not helped by enthusiastic proponents who egregiously underestimate the consequences…

Although few would dispute the idealistic merits of providing rights to the handicapped, how many, in this time of limited funds, will eagerly invest in disabled students? Our social perspectives on the common good are going to be tested against practical economics. (Part of a theme issue on mainstreaming.) (Author/SJL)

This "ERIC Digest" considers the U.S. charter-school movement, which has produced about 800 schools in half the states and enrolls over 100,000 students. Charter schools reflect founders' varied philosophies and commit to achieve certain educational outcomes within a certain period, in exchange for waiving many restrictive regulations.…

From a National Steering Group perspective, this article reviews the recent history of the national framework for teacher appraisal in England and discusses six lessons to be drawn from a project that tested the new system. Appraisal is still associated with controversy and poor industrial relations, arouses suspicion, is politically complicated,…

Although Pennsylvania has long made programming for all handicapped children mandatory, the passage of P.L. 94-142 has necessitated some changes even in this state. The major hurdle in the implementation of such a law is confusion and misinterpretation. Educators fear that the handicapped may be dumped into regular classes in an arbitrary manner.…

Conflicts often are symptoms, not causes, of organizational problems. As school budgets shrink, the budget process becomes a battlefield. A systematic approach to revising the budget process involves clarifying the school vision, identifying leadership, clarifying participants' roles, organizing processes, exploring history, implementing change,…

During a meeting of the Ohio Education Association, teachers raised concerns about a pending state mandate requiring school districts to provide mentoring programs for beginning teachers. Concerns relevant to teacher unions/organizations included funding for adequate teacher release time, the mentor role, mentor selection, training, scheduling of…

Describes educational reform efforts in Spain since 1970, when a new General Law for Education was adopted. The reform process now suffers from delays in developing new courses and teaching cycles. The country's economic crisis is creating a decline in funding for new programs, while the education ministry insists on working to improve teaching…

Sustainability is a critical issue for out-of-school programs. Time-limited grants, narrow categorical funding streams, and difficult economic conditions leave program leaders in a continual struggle to find a stable base of resources to continue their program over time. In the face of these challenges, many out-of-school initiatives have…

Appointed in 1978, the New York State Special Task Force on Equity and Excellence in Education was charged with improving educational equity in the state. This volume of the report first presents seven alternative school finance plans developed by the task force to demonstrate how its recommendations could be implemented. The report notes each…

Colorado Springs (Colorado) School District 11 was the first to offer advertising opportunities via its school buses. This action was taken after new investment policies, self-insurance, contracting out, and salary freezes proved inadequate to offset voters' reluctance to increase taxes. Opposition was limited, due to strong community support and…

Starting from a survey of research literature and court cases, researchers conducted a study of South Carolina school districts' policies and procedures concerning reductions in force (RIFs). The literature review indicated some of the conditions necessitating RIFs (such as state financial problems), methods of avoiding RIFs, and criteria for RIF…

States have had to budget increasing amounts for mandated pupil-transportation services as their state transportation aid has been slashed dramatically. Among school districts, cooperation and coordination through shared services (consortia) have resulted in safer, more reliable, and more efficient transportation. Implementation advice is…

The phenomenon of minimum competency testing (MCT) is explored, beginning with its origins in public concern for educational accountability. Three major themes appearing in the states enacting prescriptive legislation are described: state standards/state test (Florida); state standards/local test (Oregon); and local standards/local test…

Interest in distance education, particularly online education, is increasing in public school districts throughout the United States. In an effort to aid those who are involved in the planning and administration of K-12 distance education programs in Georgia, the authors sought to gather and report baseline data on the current utilization of…