Halloween is becoming one of the most controversial days of the school year, due to parents' religious, educational, and safety concerns. Although Halloween celebrations do not violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, teachers should not use them as an occasion to teach about Druidism. Schools should have opt-out provisions and…

The article reviews the rules and regulations of the United States Fair Labor Standards Act in relation to school-based vocational programs and emphasizes the payment of wages across different training and placement options. (Author/CB)

Discusses a South Dakota federal court case challenging a school board policy on holiday observances in the public schools. Condensed from "Illinois School Board Journal," July-August 1981, p22-24. (Editor/SJL)

Describes a suit against the East Lansing (Michigan) Schools, brought by conservative religious parents dissatisfied with counseling, music, and conflict-resolution activities provided for their third-grade son. The plaintiffs' action failed. The Hatch Act has limitations. However, there is strong public sentiment against entrusting schools with…

This document contains witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Senate hearing called to examine what drug abuse prevention curriculum will effectively teach public school children to say "no" to drugs. Opening statements are included from Senators Paula Hawkins, John Kerry, Alfonse D'Amato, Dennis DeConcini, Charles…

After an explanantion of the three-part test developed by the Supreme Court to consider school policies and activities involving religion, the author discusses the constitutionality of prayer, moment of silence, student prayer clubs, graduation prayers, religious symbols, religious holiday observances, and Bible distribution in public schools.…

This report discusses amendments offered by the Committee on Agriculture to H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act, which reauthorizes and improves the nutrition programs under the National School Lunch (NSL) Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The amendments deal with: (1) the amount of commodities provided to schools under the…

In outline form, this document provides summary statements of provisions contained in California's legislation SB 813, otherwise known as the Hughes-Hart Educational Reform Act of 1983. While SB 813 addresses issues concerning school finance, the minimum school year, employees, course requirements, apprentices, and taxation, this summary deals…

Washington's State Supreme Court held unconstitutional a secondary school's routine search of the luggage of all students participating in a school-sponsored overnight trip. Such general searches are not permitted, and schools can find other means of ensuring good student discipline. (PGD)

This booklet was written to help school officials understand the law concerning public forums and voluntary religious activities in public schools. Compliance dilemmas arising from the First Amendment establishment of religion clause and the accompanying free speech and free expression clauses, along with 14th Amendment equal protection…

This document contains an executive summary and a six-part report presenting findings from a series of small studies assessing the research on school-based drug prevention programs and surveying federal, state, and local school district prevention activities. It focuses on prevention, or education, activities directed toward school-age youth…

These hearings transcripts present discussions on amendments offered by the Committee on Education and Labor to H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994, which will reauthorize and improve the national school lunch program and the child nutrition programs under the National School Lunch (NSL) Act and the Child Nutrition Act of…

This report discusses amendments offered by the Committee on Education and Labor to H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act, which reauthorizes and improves the nutrition programs under the National School Lunch (NSL) Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Thirteen amendments to the NSL Act deal with: (1) technical assistance to…

This report is designed to provide members of Congress and the general public with information about the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), in light of the fact that a number of provisions of the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts are to be reauthorized during the current congressional term. It contains a description of the NSLP and…

These Congressional hearings contain testimony dealing with vocational education, school lunch programs, asbestos in schools, and elementary and secondary educational programs. Included among those agencies and organizations represented at the hearings were the following: Ashland Vocational and Technical School in Ashland, Kentucky; Cabell County…