School district use of state educational reform is reviewed. Active users want to and can respond positively. A dominant coalition, which believes it can set its own agenda and sees the reforms as ways of meeting its own ends, promotes willingness. Systems for managing key change functions/linkages are essential. (TJH)

Examines 3 of 26 curriculum documents distributed by the Ontario Ministry of Education in one year to demonstrate that policy statements pay little heed to costs involved. Discusses variables in curricular change: teacher availability and training, student characteristics, materials and physical facilities, instructional technology, and finances.…

Examines the decision in Sheff versus O'Neill which ruled that the Governor of Connecticut, and other officials, had no obligation to remedy school segregation when the state did not foster or promote it. Selected text from the decision is provided, including the judge's response to the Connecticut Supreme Court's request for further factual…

Emphasizes importance of educational technology in classrooms and presents action plan to utilize technology to improve American education. Identifies obstacles preventing utilization of technology to its fullest potential. Highlights leadership efforts of federal government to develop teachers' professional skills with new technologies. Suggests…

This survey of 249 state and private agencies and schools for blind and visually impaired persons found that 149 offered recreation services. The survey addressed the recreation personnel's employment status, educational background and continuing education experiences, professional affiliation, and interest in networking with other recreation…

Maryland provides funds for systemic renovation projects that are infrastructure improvements in public schools. State funds are provided on a sliding scale based on the age of the system being replaced and the wealth of the school district. (MLF)

Curriculum policies of New York, California, Texas, and Florida are analyzed in light of their potential to control local educational practice. Examination of consistency, prescriptives, authority, and power of these policies indicates that state policies may have reduced, but have not eliminated, local curricular control. (SLD)

The magnitude of special education funding requirements has placed strains on both state and local budgets. Funding formulas for special education can be grouped as resource based, child based, or cost based. A table provides a summary of the incentives and disincentives associated with each type of funding. (13 references) (MLF)

Describes the development of Project EASIER, a collaborative electronic-data interchange for networking Iowa local school districts, education agencies, community colleges, universities, and the Department of Education. The primary goal of this project is to develop and implement a system for collection of student information for state and federal…

Suggests that writing instruction for students attending residential public schools for gifted students must be tailored to this unique population. Writing instruction should include the writing conventions of various disciplines, writing for the general public, writing across the curriculum, technical writing, expressive writing, and persuasive…

School-finance equity is deceivingly complex. Equity necessitates fair and just treatment, which might actually require unequal treatment of some individuals or groups. State governments face a tremendous challenge in developing school-finance systems that result in equity for children. Obstacles include finding the correct mix of taxes to…

This article examines trends in special education expenditures, revenues, personnel, and student enrollments for 1993-94 through 1997-98 in Pennsylvania, the first five years of implementation of the census-based approach. Patterns and changes are analyzed to see the impact of the new approach on school districts and the state over time. (Contains…

A study examined the costs of different models of inclusion and traditional special education preschool programs in five local education agencies in five states. Results show lower costs associated with more inclusive models as compared to traditional forms of special education provision on an annual and per hour basis. (Contains references.)…

The philosophical debate about making high fliers out of low academic achievers in places considered educationally and culturally deprived like rural Appalachia warms the hearts of those who see education as the road to economic well-being for the nation. However, education reform rhetoric must be saleable to rural residents who distrust outsiders…

Most plans for school reform depend on agencies of the federal government, states, and districts for codifying, assessing, and communicating standards. This paper outlines the appropriate responsibilities and associated language for the major educational agencies involved in standards and assessment. It proposes that educational assessment should…