This is the first in a series of reports about public education in Texas. This introductory report summarizes many of the challenges faced by students in Texas, as well as challenges faced by the schools they attend. It focuses on low income and disadvantaged children and describes some of the major education-reform efforts currently being…

This report analyzes the reasons why parents in Minnesota choose to homeschool their children. The survey, on which the report is based, is part of a larger study examining each of the types of school-choice options available in Minnesota. Three research questions guided the survey: What are the demographic characteristics of families who choose…

This paper reports findings from a study of the effectiveness of charter schools in California. The study's purpose was to report preliminary findings to the Legislative Analyst's Office relating to the educational performance, characteristics, and practices of charter schools and their sponsoring agencies. The study addressed six central…

This document presents the most current and complete information about charter schools in Wisconsin. It describes the purpose of charter schools in the state and how they are constructed to achieve their goals. It discusses charter-school history, sponsorship, legal status, what charter schools can and cannot do, organization and governance,…

This report is based on surveys of unified school districts, elementary school districts, high school districts, county offices of education, and state special schools in California. Performed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), the document provides the state legislature an assessment of the facility and personnel needs facing…

This document summarizes annual reports provided by Massachusetts' charter schools. It is supplemented with information from reports required of all public schools in the state and provides profiles of the 24 charter schools that were operating in 1997-98. The report opens with an overview of the four common features of charter schools--freedom,…

This is Montana's first education profile. The measures in the profile, and the information they contain, provide a clear picture of education in the state. Public school education is provided by more than 460 school districts in this, the U.S.'s fourth largest state in terms of land. With only a few large communities, more than two-thirds of the…

Public libraries serve patrons who have a wide range of demographic characteristics. Boards of Trustees of public libraries play an important role in maintaining and planning libraries that serve the needs of the community. The demographic characteristics of the board are one factor that can help represent the diversity of the patron community.…

During the past decade, states have taken an active role in regularly reporting to the public indicators of the status of public education, including results of student assessments, data on students and teachers, and school finance data. With the passing of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), federal accountability and reporting have been…

The plan adopted in this study has been: (1) to make a correlation between the ranking of the various States in each of the items compared; and (2) to compare the various States with each other directly with a reference to the mean of the entire United States in those items. The Pearson coefficient of correlation points out the approximate degree…

There is considerable difference of opinion among educators in regard to the wisdom of preparing rural teachers in academic institutions of secondary rank. Many fear that this may result in lower standard of academic work, while others insist that such teacher preparation will add dignity and a now sense of responsibility to the tasks of the…

Author projects increases in Florida's career employees and assesses their training needs. (Editor/RK)

Annual review of State legislation shows considerable activity to improve occupational safety and to combat discrimination. (Editor)