This report summarizes policies dealing with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education and AIDS carriers in the schools. It deals with statewide policies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina, providing reports on each of the six states in which questions on AIDS education and policies were…

The current official policy of the California community colleges on grading prohibits the use of plus and minus symbols to modify a standard letter grade. Plus and minus grades may influence a student's grade point average (GPA) either through statistical effects or psychological effects on teachers and students. At its fall 1985 session, and…

A 4-month study was conducted to determine the feasibility and desirability of computer networks for instruction and educational administration in Alaska. Five major activities were carried out to collect the necessary information: (1) interviews with representatives of other Alaska government agencies; (2) a survey of district office staff; (3) a…

The 1985 education reform legislation in Illinois is assessed in this report. Following a summary and list of major findings and recommendations, the evaluation is divided into three main sections. The first section presents an overview of the legislation, identifies general themes, examines the reform's fiscal impact, compares the extent of…

Thirteen methods of financing school buildings in California are described in this document. A brief introduction reviews recent changes in California school financing, following passage of Proposition 13, and explains the need for new financing methods. For each method, the document provides a description (which also points out limitations),…

Current public demands for increased educational quality can best be met at the state education agency (SEA) level, but the SEA is faced with the fact that no single, clearly acceptable definition of educational quality exists. As a result of this lack of consensus, the SEA must examine the policy options available before taking action. First,…

Selective organizational change in the school presents one promising approach for delinquency prevention among young people. The organizational change approach assumes that: (1) delinquency will be reduced when young people are able to show their competence and worth; (2) young people learn socially legitimate behavior mainly in the school; and…

A wide variety of low cost, innovative, and successful school improvement activities have been initiated at both state and local levels in the past few years. This document highlights many of the state-level activities by presenting the results of a 50-state survey conducted in May and June 1982. Two tables provide a brief overview, followed by…

Rural education may be the beneficiary of the current national focus on educational reform since concerns have centered on improving education for all students regardless of where they live, a direction not emphasized in most previous reform movements. The reforms bring challenges relating to teacher certification, curriculum, facilities, student…

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide Florida's school districts with some procedures for developing projects and programs that will meet the letter and intent of Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. This document addresses: (1) allowable costs; (2) personnel; (3) fiscal requirements that apply to all…

This document presents briefing papers for the seven gubernatorial task forces proposed in the National Governors' Association Action Plan for Attaining Educational Excellence. An introductory section discusses the complementary responsibilities of Federal, State, and local governments for assuring access to educational opportunities for all…

Complex relationships among colleges of education, local school districts, and state departments of education are, in many cases, hindering the training of competent teachers. Each institution is responsible for some facet of preparing and certifying teachers; yet the responsibility is not seen as contributing to a shared goal, but rather as ends…

In order to provide information for programming and policy decisions to the Maryland State Education Department, personnel at 200 schools were surveyed to determine how instructional television (ITV) is used at district and school levels. Among questions explored were: (1) the availability of broadcast signal, programming sources, and equipment to…

In 1958, as a result of a preliminary report on educational needs, the education committee of the Kansas Legislative Council: (1) appropriated funds for a comprehensive survey of the State's educational system; (2) selected a 35 member citizens state advisory committee; and (3) directed each county to organize a county survey group which was to…

Through a wide variety of programs and services, Oregon's 25 educational service districts (ESDs) link the state Department of Education with local school districts while helping districts provide a cost-effective education and fostering equal educational opportunity statewide. This report lists the general ESD programs and services required by…