The tables have turned on Michigan's public school boards and other school officials. As a result of changes to the state's labor law in 2023, school districts face the risk of losing some authority to determine who should be teaching in their classrooms. Teachers unions are empowered once again to demand districts treat teachers as if they are…

Secondary educators implement an array of work-based learning activities that expose transition-age students to the demands of post-secondary employment. One such strategy, internships, provides students with a formal opportunity to acquire transferable employment skills that lead to meaningful post-secondary employment outcomes. Facilitating…

This paper presents a review of legislation and court cases that have resulted in the present guidelines and criteria for transition services for students with special education needs. These include effective transition to post-secondary learning, career, and/or independent living. Transition planning is viewed from the lens of the Shapiro and…

This paper examines how public school districts responded to Michigan's 2012 "right-to-work" law. It describes the key findings from reviews of more than 500 teacher collective bargaining agreements. It also raises several questions about the legality of some union contracts with regard to this new law. Approximately 75 percent of…

Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…

Despite three decades of scholarship on economic restructuring in the United States, employers' violations of minimum wage, overtime and other workplace laws remain understudied. This article begins to fill the gap by presenting evidence from a large-scale, original worker survey that draws on recent advances in sampling methodology to reach…

Educating farm labor supervisors about the regulations that govern agricultural operations and employment is critical to reducing unintentional violations of workplace safety and labor laws. Cooperative Extension can provide the training needed to professionalize this vital and diverse workforce. One challenge to providing adult education to a…

There is significant interest in reforming retirement plans for public school employees, particularly in light of current market conditions. This article presents an overview of the various types of state regulation of public pension plans that affect possibilities for reform. Nearly all of the various approaches to public pension plan protection…

Focuses on the legal status of employee-participation programs, such as quality circles, that coexist with but are not controlled by unions. Suggests changes in public policy to protect participation programs that do not threaten the bargaining agent. (JOW)

A study of 13th-century industrial regulations in Paris shows how medieval apprenticeships in the textile industry functioned. The investigation interprets wool industry apprenticeship in the context of the production system and the social environment. (SK)

Implementation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act was studied to determine the number of plant closures and layoffs subject to the provisions of the act, whether employers are providing advance notice as required, the difficulties involved in implementing and enforcing WARN, and the views of employers and employees on…

This article reviews the International Labour Organisation's standard-setting activities to combat or regulate child labor (fixing of a minimum age for employment or work, establishment of the conditions under which children may work); discusses the means of enforcing standards; and describes the situation in practice. (CT)

Discusses how companies can prepare for the changes mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against qualified, disabled job applicants and employees. Steps mentioned include (1) learn about the ADA; (2) find out what similar organizations are doing; (3) identify affected employees; and (4) develop a…

Reviews federal laws (Fair Labor Standard Act's child labor regulations, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Immigration Reform and Control Act) for their implications for cooperative education and school-to-work programs. (SK)

Guidelines in question and answer format explain implications of the Immigration Reform and Control Act's antidiscrimination provisions for cooperative education recruiting practices. Issues addressed include legality of questions about citizenship and work authorization, employer hiring requirements, and F-1 and H-1 visa holders. (SK)