Argues that the federal civil rights program contains flaws in preventing equal educational opportunity particularly for low-income victims of discrimination. Emphasizes the need for more government action, especially at the state level, to achieve equity goals. Analyzes current state educational policies. (SA)

Addressing the underlying tension that generally exists between school-level autonomy and systemwide uniformity, the author's nine commandments include recognizing the school as the key organizational unit in public education, selecting and nurturing first-rate principals, and granting more budgetary authority to the school level. (JBM)

"Safe, Healthy and Ready to Succeed: Arizona School Readiness Key Performance Indicators" presents a set of baseline measurements that gauge how well a statewide system of school readiness supports is addressing issues that affect Arizona children's readiness for school. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) measure the system, rather…

This policy brief presents findings from Southwest Educational Development Laboratory research on resource allocation in 1,504 independent school districts in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. Using 5 years' data from the federal Common Core of Data and the Census Bureau along with 3 years of student performance data from each state…

This report outlines the Commission's tasks and progress in fulfilling the goals of the "Comprehensive Statewide Plan for Postsecondary Education." The "Plan" identifies goals that lead to an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, and synchronized system of higher education. The "Plan," considered a…

This report represents the Educational Priorities Panel's third look at school districts educating the majority of African-American and Latino students in the state. The intent this time is to look at the broad picture. The NYS Education Department reports student test data for these students, but the Department's funding analysis does not. The…

This report discusses findings from case studies in California, Missouri, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania that examined ways in which state-level general and special education reforms interact, impact local districts, and affect the educational programs for students with disabilities. Chapter 1 reviews two major state-level priorities for education…

This manual provides administrative guidelines for programs for gifted students in Missouri. An introduction cites the relevant state special education law, defines "giftedness," and stresses that differentiated educational programs are intended for only 2 or 3 percent of the school-aged population whose development requires…

This study examined the effects on special education enrollment of state funding systems and high stakes testing. The study evaluated special and general education enrollment for each of the school years 1991-92 through 2000-01. Data were also collected on high stakes testing in each state and on funding systems, including the common bounty system…

State policies greatly affect the decisions rural districts make about building or renovating school facilities. State, federal, and local mechanisms for funding school facilities are briefly described. Some states require a specific percentage of growth or decline in student population or a minimum number of students as a prerequisite for…

In a recent survey, Physical Education in City Public Schools, Physical Education Series No. 10, published by the Office of Education, the fact was pointed out that in many cities, the program of physical education in elementary schools is carried on largely by the regular grade teachers. While in many instances, special supervisors of physical…

This bulletin summarizes issues related to rural education in two parts. Section I, Problems Concerned with Rural School Support, covers: (1) The schools and the economic situation; (2) State aid and equalization of opportunities, including interest in school support and efforts toward improvement, sources and distribution of State school funds,…

Describes the development and implementation of an educational administrative program in the Cheliabinsk Oblast region of post-Soviet Russia. The system attempted to assign appropriate responsibilities at the local level while maintaining a unified national system of education. Briefly discusses other problems concerning educational support and…

A study analyzed state funding policies for serving limited English proficient (LEP) students and related patterns of state aid allocations to school districts. State efforts were often poorly conceived or applied, and often inadequate. Only New Jersey and Florida met all study criteria for adequacy, "rationality," and equity of funding,…

Education reform is taking a silent toll on school boards, says the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Cites laws in a number of states that weaken school boards' authority. Advocates a national debate about problems with school boards before changing the organizational structure. (MLF)