States, districts and schools are now being offered unprecedented opportunities to develop programs that will improve student performance and turn around underperforming schools. An understanding of how reducing chronic early absence helps those efforts will go a long way to assure that innovative school improvement policies and practices will be…

As the parent of a child who has or may have a disability, the federal and state laws give them certain rights--called procedural safeguards. If they would like a more detailed explanation of these rights, they should contact the principal of their child's school, a school administrator, their local special education director, or any of the…

Realizing the need to establish a procedure to hear cases in which decisions are questioned, the student government organization in one midwestern school set out to formulate a fair and equitable due process procedure. The writer presents the Appeals Board procedure here as a model. (Editor)

Ways to solve current educational and student problems are discussed. (CK)

Presents an informal, constructive approach to student behavior problems based on positively stated rules, responsible decision making, and clearly outlined consequences for breaking rules. (WD)

Examines laws and policies that support the use of school-wide discipline programs. Presents a brief overview of the primary components of these policies and examines laws and court cases that address school-wide discipline policies and procedures. Also discusses the legal implications when developing school-wide policies. (Contains 35…

Describes how, in the past three months, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has put more bite into penalties imposed on colleges that violate rules. Explores what is behind the pattern. (EV)

Using the case of Tony Cole at the University of Georgia, explores how colleges are struggling with a variety of problems that arise when athletes are accused of crimes or have criminal pasts. (EV)

In schools across America, school safety and student discipline remain primary concerns for all stakeholders in the education process. Researchers and educators suggest that implementing a school-wide discipline plan tailored to meet the needs of a particular school setting is one solution to the complex behavior management problem. The limited…

Purpose: A factor largely overlooked amid the press for greater security in schools is the extent to which law enforcement participates in search and seizure and the implications such actions carry for student civil liberties. As case law suggests, police engaged in school searches may be held to the probable cause standard or the more flexible…

Indiscipline in schools in the UK continues to be the subject of fierce debate. The views of young people as pupils in these schools continue to be marginalised despite their centrality to this debate and their ability to offer a unique set of perspectives. An exploration of the views of a generality of pupils suggests the need to challenge many…

Whilst the copying, falsification and plagiarism of essays and assignments has long been a prevalent form of academic misconduct amongst undergraduate students, the increasing use of the internet in higher education has raised concern over enhanced levels of online plagiarism and new types of "cyber-cheating". Based on a self-report…

The nature of teaching exposes teachers to civil liabilities. In the process of teaching teachers need to discipline students who display bad behaviour. In disciplining the students, teachers use a variety of punishments including corporal punishment. Without knowledge of the legal implications of their actions, inadvertently they may find…

Bullying incidents in schools are getting more attention since the Columbine High School shootings on April 20, 1999 in Littleton, Colorado. Many national and state policies have been enacted since that fateful day. In Virginia, legislation passed by the 1999 General Assembly (section 22.1-208.01) required local school boards to establish a…