In this opinion piece, the author writes that England is now well on the way to having the most totalitarian as well as one of the most inefficiently managed schools system in Europe. He states that in the much maligned 1960s, people came from all over the world to learn from what was being achieved in the best of England's publicly-funded, local…

Collective, comprehensive and cohesive are the words Gene Wilhoit uses to talk about education reform that involves multiple levels of the education system--states, districts, and schools. Today it is widely accepted that education leadership is crucial to improving student performance, and Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State…

The author argues that the state level should have a major role in establishing a core curriculum but that local flexibility is needed to adapt school policies to varied needs and to better utilize staff at the school level. (MT)

Introduces six articles identifying and analyzing key issues for state-local relations in education, with a focus on the management of complex intergovernmental and interorganizational arrangements to maintain or improve the quality of education in local school districts. (CMG)

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) criticizes state-mandated program-oriented budgeting as limited, laborious, inflexible, and more concerned with efficiency than with sound education. NJEA sets out its own guidelines on school budgeting, which favor the traditional line-item budget. (SJL)

Considers the impact of state power and authority on community college governance. Traces the trend toward increased state influence over institutional decisions in California and Florida. Looks at implications for the future. (DMM)

Reveals some of the lessons learned from state and local efforts to transform low-performing schools. Summarizes and analyzes the state and local intervention experience based on a review of efforts undertaken in 22 states since 1989. Classifies these interventions in terms of their intrusiveness: mild, moderate, and strong. (Contains 12…

By permitting alternative certification, West Virginia is relaxing standards for principal preparation. Few business managers will trade less demanding, better paying jobs for principalships. Collegiality will erode, as teachers vie for administrative positions. Practitioners lacking professional training might accept top-down edicts and…

This study of the interaction between school and social context is divided into two parts. The first section examined some environmental factors external to the school that directly influence school policies and practices. Citizen participation in school activities and the relationship of the school to the state are two of the topics examined. The…

While the federal government has a continuing important role in education, the states have the constitutional responsibility for it. Only the states can address most of the recommendations of the various studies on the crises in American education, particularly those pertaining to teacher certification, career ladder restructuring, and curriculum…

Although California schools are experiencing cutbacks, the cause may be declining enrollment rather than Proposition 13. A less debatable result of Proposition 13 is greater state control of education's purse strings. (Author/JM)

Discusses the increased influence of state legislative bodies on college governance and examines the need for effective lobbying on the part of college administrators. Provides guidelines for lobbying, recommending familiarity with key calendar dates, committee structures, the chairperson's power, the party in control, and the flow of legislation.…

In Illinois, the combination of aging structures, local taxpayer resistance to increased property taxes, and increased costs have all affected local school infrastructure feasibility. Proposes four steps districts should be required to take to meet their fiduciary responsibilities. (eight references) (MLF)

The purpose of the eleventh amendment was to protect the states from the federal government by limiting the power of the federal courts. Reviews litigation regarding whether a local school district is cloaked with the state's eleventh amendment immunity. (86 references) (MLF)

The changes in the New Orleans public school system are proceeding at break neck speed. There is currently a bill in the Louisiana State Senate which would allow the state to sell, lease, or give New Orleans school buildings to any institution that has operated schools for 25 years. This would be done with a no-bid process. The money would not go…