In 2013, the Texas Legislature gave the state commissioner of education the broad statutory authority necessary to close poor performing public charter schools. Since then, the commissioner has vigorously exercised this new authority, preparing the way for the state to shift its resources away from enforcement and toward creation and support of…

This article examines minority teacher recruitment policies and programs of the past two decades and explores their influence on the racial/ethnic makeup of the teaching force in elementary and secondary public schools. The results show that while important progress has been made toward increasing the overall number and proportion of minority…

This report is designed to inform policymakers and educators about the current status of key education policies across the 50 states that define and shape elementary and secondary education in public schools. Time and attendance policies cover length of school year, date for start of school, length of school day, year-round school, kindergarten…

The purpose of public education in Virginia is to provide children with a quality education giving them opportunities to meet their fullest potential in life. Standards for the accreditation of public schools in Virginia are designed to ensure that an effective educational program is established and maintained in the state public school system.…

Contains a response to an earlier article in the May/June 1996 issue of this journal which weaves into the Texas story references to apparent failures in California. Presents a corrective version of the challenges faced by public schools in California. (TB)

This booklet provides guidelines for school planners and designers on the state requirements for space allocation in its K-12 public schools. Recommendations are included for various specialized facilities to assure that proper spaces can be provided beyond the typical classroom space. Guidelines are arranged under the categories of instructional,…

Employment Standards for Vocational Education Supervisory positions are addressed on page 5 in the 1999 Rules, Regulations and Minimum Standards for the Governance of Tennessee Public Schools, 0520-1-2-.03(10)(i). School systems were notified by the Assistant Commissioner of Vocational-Technical Education in April 1999 that the standard must be…

This guide is a reference for North Dakota school district personnel. It includes all documents related to the subjects of school construction approval for schools under, and over, $150,000; construction loans, including application forms which can be reproduced; and the timelines for both processes. School facility plan forms are provided to…

States have used a variety of strategies to address financial and educational bankruptcy in public school districts and schools. The results of these intervention strategies are ambiguous. Four approaches that have been used are: (1) district takeovers; (2) mayoral control; (3) third-party partnerships; and (4) reconstitution of schools. In all,…

This paper contains proposed state exiting standards for the Idaho K-12 public school system. All schools are to deliver a core of instruction and advisement programs for each student. Students are to meet locally established standards (at a minimum, the state standards), which can be assessed by challenging examinations, demonstrations of…

Professional school counselors are required by law and/or regulation in every state to obtain a state-issued credential in order to be employed in public schools. Information regarding certification requirements and state mandates are covered in this report. The information was compiled through an analysis of state laws, regulations, credentialing…

Decentralization is arguably one of the most important phenomena to come on to the educational planning agenda in the last 15 years. Why a country should decentralize its educational decision-making process and which decisions should be decentralized are two questions that many decision-makers raise. This booklet is intended to provide educational…

Examines state takeovers in Logan County, West Virginia; Compton, California; and Jersey City, New Jersey. Lessons learned include align the local curriculum with state standards and tests; work to prevent administrator turnover; pick a realistic number of problems to address each year; open lines of communication with the community; maintain…

Historically states are seen as more comfortable with narrowly focused rules, regulation, and monitoring responsibilities than with broad change. Currently states face revolutionary new arrangements for financing education, overseeing federal commitments, and providing fair and meaningful standards for educational performance. The major…

In 1989, the Kentucky Supreme Court determined that the state's public school system was unconstitutional and called for the General Assembly to "recreate and re-establish a new system of common schools." A new system of accountability in language arts departments required portfolio assessment that was both objective and strictly…