Presented is a plan used to pay teachers for extracurricular duties based on a point system. The plan is teacher-developed and helps ensure fairness in evaluating extracurricular compensation. Included is a description of the point system. (MD)

In an Oklahoma case, absence of a documented drug problem among students in nonathletic extracurricular activities led the10th Circuit Court to strike down the district's policy as unreasonable and unconstitutional. Imposing random, suspicionless drug-testing policies for all students attending school might violate the Fourth Amendment. (MLH)

States that schools should think twice before adopting a random drug-testing program for students involved in extracurricular activities even though the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in "Board of Education v. Earls" upheld its constitutionality. Briefly describes dissenting opinions in "Earls" and opposition to drug testing…

Discusses issues in school "pay-to-play" policies, the charging of fees for sports or other extracurricular activities, as a fund-raising strategy in response to budget shortfalls. Fees sometimes discourage economically disadvantaged students from participating and place pressure on parents. (LMI)

Describes how many school districts are dealing with the problem of funding high school athletics and extracurricular activities in times of declining state and local budget revenues. Solutions involve program cuts, "pay for play" fees, fund raisers, and tax referenda. (PKP)

Recent court decisions on student religious groups and the Equal Access Act passed by Congress conflict on interpretation of the Constitution. Until a Supreme Court decision resolves the issues, school boards in jurisdictions affected by the decisions should obey the rulings; others should get legal advice. (MD)

Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in "Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls," wherein the Court held that random drug testing of students taking part in extracurricular activities is constitutional. (PKP)

Reviews selected research on the benefits of student involvement in extracurricular activities, especially in small schools. (PKP)

To make sure students' time in school is used efficiently and advantageously, some simple ways to improve time use are suggested. It is important to assess time use to ensure that a school schedules enough time for basics, is using learning time and teaching time well, and is not duplicating subject matter. (MD)

An Illinois school district describes seven ways it has successfully encouraged parent participation at school events. (MD)

Discusses why some school boards are raising academic eligibility requirements for student athletes, and the divisive effects created in some communities. (LMI)

Pressured by religious conservatives, Congress passed the Equal Access Act (1984), allowing secondary school students the right to form on-campus extracurricular religious and other clubs. Recently, a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at a southern California high school was granted court protection under this statute, despite the community's objections.…

School boards have legal responsibility and liability for crowd control at extracurricular events. Board policies should cover supervision, rules, and various legal liabilities involving different crowd-control personnel, including school employees, on- and off-duty police, hired guards, and parent volunteers. Twelve guidelines are suggested for…

The United States Supreme Court's decision in "Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier" gives school officials sweeping power over school-sponsored publications and other curricular and extracurricular activities. To avoid charges of squelching student expression, school boards should make sure that policies limit censorship to legitimate…

Two Constitutional principles--separation of church and state and freedom of speech--have been placed in conflict by the newly established Equal Access Act (1984). Some ways that school boards have found to deal with the confusion are presented. (MD)