For comparative education to provide a valid contribution to educational policymaking, attention must be given to the context of decision and the possible enlargement of the decision-making population. Recommendations and writings must be geared to their audience and should draw on other related disciplines. (SV)

The Michigan School Boards Association holds workshops to teach board members how to make policy, exercise the necessary oversight of their policies, and hold administrators accountable for what happens in the district. Six checkpoints are presented regarding board policy expectations, legal review criteria, and operational concerns. (MLH)

The paper addresses (1) lawsuits stemming from fraternity hazing incidents and their potential liability; (2) defenses raised by fraternities, universities, and individual defendants and the success or failure of those defenses; and (3) responses to the hazing problem (state legislation and specific university and fraternity anti-hazing policies).…

Outlines key social policy issues facing women and examines implications for social work practice. Argues that systematic analysis of interconnections between social policy issues and social work practice with women is critical foundation for social work practice. Uses framework built on concepts of role equity and role change to examine social…

U.S. competitiveness continues to decline in the absence of a federal technology development policy as well as corporate policies that focus on financial strategies and profit. Business must view technology development and human resource development as essential. (SK)

Charged with their own planning and development activities, developing nations have amassed a record of failed undertakings. In this category is Trinidad and Tobago's policy for "de-shifting" its bisessional schools to serve only one group of pupils daily. Experiences with "war on poverty" programs indicates that implementation…

Examines the organization of contract research in the United Kingdom and the current system's benefits and problems for employers, employees, and sponsors, as well as policy initiatives. Concludes that the current system is deeply flawed and policy has failed to address the real issues. Fundamental changes are recommended. (Author/MSE)

Analysis of United Kingdom Labor Force Survey data identified inadequacies and ambiguities that change prevailing interpretations. Policy development could benefit from improvements in collection and interpretation of data on training, as well as from more research on its costs and benefits. (SK)

Reviews what is known about what assessment has accomplished in U.S. education, concluding that it has not brought about real reform. Calls for educational policy based more on deliberated interpretations of assessment, experience, and ideology, and notes the important role evaluation of assessment must play in policy deliberations. (Author/SLD)

An investigation of smoking polices and smoking practices of residents and employees in 106 Massachusetts state-supported residential programs found that state-operated programs prohibited employees from smoking in residences and restricted residents who smoked to designated areas. One-third of vendor-operated agencies allowed residents and staff…

"Education" is being displaced by "learning" and it is becoming increasingly difficult to isolate educational policy from socioeconomic policy. Analysis of progressive social democratic policies shows that lifelong learning may be another name for expansion of education and training systems. (SK)

Describes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and reviews and assesses research on its impact. Recommends policy reforms and randomized experiments to evaluate the program and any changes made to it. Weaknesses in research to date make the real impacts of WIC unclear. (Contains 79 references.) (SLD)

Discusses how United States national policy regarding sexual harassment exemplifies the Foucauldian paradigm in its attempt to regulate sexuality through seemingly authorless texts. Proposes a user-centered approach to policy drafting that values the knowledge of workers as users and makers of workplace policy. Argues that regulation through such…

Discusses the characteristics of educational research in Poland and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe under communism and the implications of the postcommunist changes for the future of educational research. Educational researchers could play an important role in developing more informed educational policies. (SLD)

The experience of indigenous and female New Zealanders at a Unesco Institute for Education conference illuminates the ways in which their participation was restricted and their voices not represented in policy analysis and formation. Differential positions of privilege and power were evident. (SK)