Case study of a poor, rural Pennsylvania school district's experience with the Reading First initiative illustrates how the No Child Left Behind Act confines districts to a few federally prescribed, "scientifically proven" curricula that ignore local conditions. Sanctioned schools are negatively labeled but receive inadequate funding,…

Demonstrates that socio-economic factors such as family background are important in determining student achievement, but are reinforced by factors such as teaching and learning resources. Presents a study of student achievement in mathematics and science related to parental education and occupation and to type of school. (LS)

Discusses the California professional development program. Asserts that technological advancements and other societal changes make it imperative for social studies teachers to seek continued professional development. Presents various ways in which teachers can meet the continuing education requirements. (CFR)

The article explains briefly the provisions of Goals 2000, emphasizing its support of ongoing educational change at the state and local levels and state flexibility to develop diverse approaches to reform. To illustrate this flexibility, the article describes reform activities in Vermont, Delaware, and Oregon, and explains how these states are…

Provides a sampling of citations in the ERIC database on children's rights. Includes human rights education, United Nations' conventions, state takeovers of local school districts, and federal law as it affects student rights. Covers child abuse, corporal punishment, child welfare, and child advocacy. (DK)

A discussion of recent trends in state educational reform stresses the importance of addressing two challenges: teaching all students higher order thinking and developing more systematic, coherent policies. The article describes the challenges, examines how state policies in the 1980s addressed them and how districts responded, and suggests future…

Underlying the very heated debate over California's education budget for 2005-2006--and the battle over Proposition 76 on the November ballot--were two very different perspectives on school funding. These fundamental differences in perspective can stymie efforts to effect meaningful change. However, the Governor's Advisory Committee on Education…

This paper discusses historical, financial, and governance issues in American Indian education in New York State, as well as future directions that may be taken to improve educational opportunities for American Indians. In New York, unique interrelationships between tribes and state have shaped the development of Indian education down to the…

This booklet lists the laws that relate to Nebraska social studies. The volume is intended for administrators, teachers, and curriculum planners to assist them to do a more thorough job of planning social studies programs. The Nebraska Social Studies Statutes are designed to be a primary tool in developing a district's curriculum, as they speak to…

This paper describes the views of special education directors in 17 Kentucky school districts concerning effects of a 1990 law, the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA), which called for systemwide change in education and instituted a finance system, Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK), which uses a pupil weighting system. The study…

This study analyzed the special education program evaluation practices of 49 states and the District of Columbia based on states' required reporting under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and on state plans. Comparison of the results with those from a 1984 study suggests the following trends: (1) an increase in the number…

The Regents' Center for Early Developmental Education (University of Northern Iowa) focuses efforts on improving early childhood education (birth through 8 years) in Iowa by supporting educational efforts that emphasize children's interests, experimentation, and cooperation. In recent years, educational reform initiatives have targeted programs…

This document reports on a survey of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on collaboration between schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) and P-12 schools in preservice and continuing professional development; and the alignment of teacher education curriculum with state P-12 content standards. Respondents in 13 states…

This annual report provides a blueprint for higher education in Missouri and reviews activities undertaken throughout the state to further these goals. It outlines the vision statement for higher education in the state and summarizes the 1996 Governor's Conference on Higher Education. The report goes on to discuss the state's plan for…

This study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research designs to analyze and evaluate procedures used in selecting youth for state-supported residential high schools for mathematics and science. Pre-admission and post-admission data were gathered for 742 students in 7 schools. Predictor variables included home school grade point…