In response to federal accountability measures, the Pennsylvania Department of Education introduced the School Performance Profile, shifting the student achievement spotlight from school districts to individual schools, thus placing the onus squarely on the shoulders of teachers and school leaders. Shared leadership has been touted in the…

School choice is increasingly the new normal in urban education. But in cities with multiple public school options, how can civic leaders create a choice system that works for all families, whether they choose a charter or district public school? To answer this question, the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) researchers surveyed 4,000…

The fragmentation in many children's homes and neighborhoods is reflected in their schools. To reform the nation's urban schools, educators must find ways to take collective responsibility for students' performance over their entire school careers. Reorganization according to feeder-pattern clusters can help teachers from various school levels…

In a case involving a swim-team student's mandatory pregnancy test and a varsity coach's mishandling of confidentiality, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals awarded the coach qualified immunity, while rejecting the student's Fourth and First Amendment claims. Discretion and legal counsel would have helped. (MLH)

This document presents Pennsylvania guidelines for interpreting child labor legislation. In Section I employment certification of minors under the child labor law, the school laws of Pennsylvania, and the federal law are discussed. In Section II the issuing officers responsible for issuing employment certificates are identified, procedures for…

IT IS HELD THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ONE OF THE MOST STRATEGICALLY PLACED STAGING AREAS FROM WHICH TO MOUNT VIGOROUS, COMPREHENSIVE AND PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN POTENTIAL LYING UNCHALLENGED IN URBAN SLUM AND DEPRESSED AREAS. STRONG CRITICISM HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARD SCHOOLS FOR NEGLECTING THEIR JOB OF…

The role of statewide testing programs and the direction Pennsylvania should take in statewide educational assessment are discussed. The major purposes proposed for statewide testing programs are: (1) informing state policy; (2) curriculum reform; and (3) accountability. The ultimate purpose of statewide testing programs is to improve student…