This self-study was conducted at Front Range Community College (Colorado) and completed under the provisions of the Colorado 1996 Higher Education Quality Assurance Act. The report is divided into six sections, one for each required accountability indicator: (1) Business Partnerships and Satisfaction; (2) Faculty and Staff Development; (3)…

Provides critical analysis of David T. Lykken's article "Psychopathy, Sociopathy, and Crime" (1996) and its correlation between unstable families and sociopathy and the use of parental licensing as a solution. Discusses reasons for the appeal of parental licensing as well as the issue of state control replacing social control. (GR)

Explores aspects of schooling children at home, including legal ramifications, resources available to home schoolers, and outcomes compared to students schooled conventionally. Examines the controversy posed by home schooling for public educators and policymakers. (HTH)

Presents information obtained on the status of comprehensive state-level environmental education (EE) programs in the United States. Comprehensive state-level EE programs include a combination of program, structure, and funding components. As of early 1996, no state had implemented all 16 components of a comprehensive program. (AIM)

This article identifies the promises of standards-based reform and the mechanisms that were supported to ensure that these promises were fulfilled. It addresses ways in which adjustments are being made to ensure that standards-based reform for all students really means all students, including students with disabilities. Next steps are discussed.…

This overview of current state legislative issues related to intellectual freedom covers attempts to impose filtering on library Internet access, new "harmful to minors" laws, community obscenity statutes, restrictions on video lending, and more. A sidebar highlights the work of a coalition to defeat a "harmful to minors" law…

This study examined the structure of child care classrooms and centers to predict process quality. Costs and quality of early childhood center-based care in four states with varying levels of regulation were analyzed to identify characteristics of the teacher, classroom, director, and center related to child care quality. Findings suggest the need…

An examination of trends in university-government relationships in Canada looks briefly at the situations in five provinces recently undergoing reviews of their higher education systems (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba), and details the circumstances in Ontario, which has the largest provincial system of higher…

A study presents a post-hoc evaluation of the use of accommodations in the Washington Assessment of Students Learning of 4th and 7th graders in 1998. Results indicate that while the use of accommodations appeared to be consistent with state guidelines, increased training opportunities and revisions in reporting procedures are advised. (Contains…

Responds to the article "Opportunities Lost: Teachers Learning about the New York State Social Studies Framework" by S. G. Grant. States that Grant loses an opportunity to provide the type of social analysis needed to extricate teacher educators from their complicity in New York State's regulation of teaching by misconstruing…

This report of the Web-Based Education Commission focuses on the need to rethink the regulatory foundations governing all educational institutions in light of the Internet and distance education possibilities. Highlights include state and local education controls; pre-kindergarten through grade 12 concerns; postsecondary issues; federal statutory…

Discusses the status of charter schools in New Mexico, including curriculum and instruction, student achievement, effects of school size, school enrollment, facilities, financial management, compliance with rules and regulations, governance, parent and community involvement, satisfaction with charter schools, and impact on local school districts.…

Introduced in 1997, Quebec's family policy includes an integrated family allowance program, comprehensive early childhood development and child care services, and a parental insurance plan. Government funding and regulation ensure that affordable/free child care is available to all children aged 0-12, child caregivers receive training and adequate…

Examines early-intervention entitlements currently extended by all states. Perspectives from the legislative process, federal and state implementation, judicial interpretation, and professional views are included. Distinctions among the key provisions for differing early intervention service systems are presented, legal cases are reviewed, and…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how transfer students interact with a higher education setting that is reacting to new state-mandated accountability goals, and to understand higher education institutions and their environments when faced with new accountability measures. The larger purpose of the study is to develop a grounded…