Encourages family scientists to participate in legislative activities in their own states. Suggests skills, strategies, and tactics to ensure any foray into legislative arena is of high quality and maximum value. Includes practical tips on how to avoid common mistakes. (Author/ABL)

This article looks at obstacles to implementing the principle of "normalization" for young children with mental retardation. It presents 10 guidelines for future development of policy and practice based on reports and studies conducted in different parts of the world. (Author/DB)

Discusses the importance of clarifying the evidence condition in education. Inattention by educational philosophers, theorists, and policymakers to the meaning has created a restricted view and unwarranted optimism regarding formulation, implementation, and evaluation of educational policies and practices. The article situates evidence within…

Examines the creation and operation of the Office of Student Affairs Research, Information, and Systems (SARIS) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Describes how SARIS came into being, how to identify and prioritize research, how to collect data, how to disseminate findings, and how administrators use the data in making policy…

Free discussion of conflicting views is essential to the university's educational mission. Recent sexual and racial harassment policy decisions by some universities are equivocal and ambiguous and can adversely affect free speech and expression. Existing professional conduct codes are sufficient to protect students and faculty from intimidating or…

A significant turning point in the development of the environmental movement in the United States, the White House Conference of Governors on Natural Resources, is summarized. The resolutions of the conference and the significance of the event are discussed. (CW)

Discusses considerations for developing an institutional policy on conflict of interest applicable to continuing medical education activities. Looks at factors that have created the need for such a policy and provides a working draft. (JOW)

Two articles are referenced that note the importance of understanding the contradictions underlying literacy program policies and practices. They underscore the importance of ethnographic research as a means of informing policy. Implications are discussed. (Contains 21 references.) (Author/LB)

Explains how the availability and cost of telecommunications services and equipment are determined through regulatory means. Highlights include distance education and training; telephone services; regulation and public policy; and key telecommunications regulatory activities, including judicial, legislative, and executive. (Contains 13…

Responses from 193 of 547 master's of business administration programs indicated that capstone courses were 5 times more likely to be used for the integrating experience, and 65% of the time were used alone. Four percent of master's candidates fail the integrating experience. Few programs are moving to theses for the experience. (SK)

Analyzes the relationship between standardization and intellectual property rights (IPRs) and presents case studies of conflicts generated between the two. Examines IPR policies of major standardization organizations to find out how they solve such conflict, and provides suggestions for solving problems with recently implemented standardization…

Argues, in contrast to David Hargreaves, that libertarianism implies a mild presumption against school choice, and that notions of common good are significant to educational decision making only when deciding between sets of institutions that perform equally well at delivering their obligations. Links these issues to questions about school choice.…

Proposes a course of study that would have high school students study and practice a public policy analysis model used by public policy professionals. Elaborates on the meaning of and rationale for public policy analysis and presents a detailed conceptual framework. Argues that competence in this activity will strengthen popular sovereignty. (DSK)

The Consumer-Directed Theory of Empowerment (CDTE) is presented as a model for guiding the development and evaluation of disability policy and rehabilitation services. The major tenet of CDTE is that increased consumer direction in disability policy formulation and rehabilitation service delivery will lead to increased community integration,…

Reviews current thinking on the (British) secondary-school department head's role, which stresses heads' importance in effecting school improvement. Describes a twofold strategy for developing successful schools that requires departments to improve their teaching, enlarge their capacity to make and implement policy, and facilitate the change…