Committed to being a charter school with a professional learning community that empowers teachers, New Mexico's South Valley Academy (SVA) staff transformed its state evaluation process into a practitioner action research process (Anderson, Herr, & Nihlen, 2007). While teachers self-diagnose growth needs and play active roles in improving…

In this article, the author makes a distinction between two kinds of change: tinkering change and systemic change. Tinkering change includes reforms intended to address a specific deficiency or practice. Such tinkering change can be contrasted to what Shakespeare termed "sea change" in "The Tempest" ("a sea change into something rich and strange")…

Outlines the facts and judicial history of Board of Education v. McCluskey, a case involving disagreement between a lower court's interpretation of school rules and the school board's interpretation. Discusses the Supreme Court's split decision reversing the lower court ruling and that split's implications for future educational law cases. (PGD)

The hard task of dealing with the myriad rules and procedures associated with delivering justice and equity in education is often dull, tedious, forbidding. But it is educators' work. (Author)

The author's ten commandments are intended to provide teachers with significant general guidelines for use in the classroom. The areas covered include worship in the classroom, academic freedom, corporal punishment, slander and libel, and student safety. (IRT)

Discusses a recent Supreme Court case that upheld State supermajority requirements for such items as bond elections and levies. (JF)

Reviews some important court cases affecting education during the last 25 years and comments on why the courts and regulatory agencies have come to play such a large role in education. (IRT)

Proposes creation of a tongue-in-cheek award for those who would rather sue than try to resolve problems through negotiation and communication. Nominates specific cases tried in 1982, 1983, and 1984 to receive the award. (Author/PGD)

By overruling both "Aguilar v. Felton" and its companion case, "School District of Grand Rapids v. Ball" as inconsistent with their current understanding of the Establishment Clause, U.S. Supreme Court majority held that "a federally funded program providing supplemental, remedial instruction to disadvantaged children on a…

Discusses New York case involving harassment of a female high school junior by three other girls culminating in physical attack that results in serious brain injuries to the girl. Girl's parents sued school officials for negligence. Jury finds that the vice-principal acted in reckless disregard for girl's safety and awards parents $11.2 million…

Examines aspects of the design or implementation of competency tests that may be illegal--inadequate phase-in periods, inadequate match between test and instruction, and racial discrimination. Provisions for a model program are outlined. (Author/IRT)

Peter D. Roos comments in an interview on developments in the area of student rights in the 10 years since he successfully represented the plaintiff in "Goss vs. Lopez." (PGD)

A suggested solution to the copyright problem would allow producers and/or networks a limited tax write-off in exchange for the schools' rights to videocopy programs. (Author/IRT)