This report was prepared in response to requests by Senators Specter and Kennedy for information regarding charter schools. It presents data on the following: the number of charter schools approved under state law; characteristics of charter-school instructional programs; factors for school autonomy; accountability mechanisms; and the challenges…

This report contains data on current participation in and compliance with Massachusetts state regulations on health insurance coverage for college students. State regulations require that all full and three quarter time college students enrolled in the 121 public or independent institutions in the state participate in a qualifying student health…

This updated edition of "Educators Resource Directory" has hundreds of new listings and thousands of updates and enhancements to existing listings. Plus, the Statistics & Rankings section has been updated with the most current information. "Educators Resource Directory" is designed to provide both educators and education…

This manual is designed to assist Minnesota school districts in implementing surrogate parent programs under federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and federal and state regulations. An introduction notes that Minnesota special education rules expand on the federal law by clarifying what school districts must do, including…

This January 2000 audit report concerns the status of California community college districts' compliance with Section 84752 of the California Education Code, which prohibits districts from receiving full-time equivalent student (FTES) funding for activities that are fully funded through another source. The state apportions funds to districts based…

Texas has moved from an education system that prescribes procedures to one that emphasizes student achievement. The plan described here provides a framework that educators and policymakers can use to coordinate federal, state, regional, and local education plans and initiatives in Texas. The plan includes the following goals: Students in the…

There is no data on the extent to which attention disorder drugs have been diverted or abused at school, or the extent to which state laws or regulations guide local school offices in safely administering these drugs. To clarify these issues, this report provides information on and analysis of: (1) the diversion and abuse of attention deficit…

Professional school counselors are required by law and/or regulation in every state to obtain a state-issued credential in order to be employed in public schools. Information regarding certification requirements and state mandates are covered in this report. The information was compiled through an analysis of state laws, regulations, credentialing…

This report, based on a survey of State Directors of Special Education, describes current state policies on home schooling with particular attention to state requirements on home schooling for students with disabilities. Background information notes that home schooling is an exemption from compulsory school attendance and does not include home or…

The drastic actions that have been taken in the District of Columbia public schools offer many lessons for those interested in urban school reform. In November 1996, the District of Columbia's federally appointed financial control board took over the school system, firing the superintendent and replacing the elected school board with an appointed…

This guide is intended to help California educators comply with requirements of the 1990 Hughes Act (which ensured the right of the state's special education students to a behavioral intervention plan) and with requirements of the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1997) concerning functional behavioral assessment and…

This paper is intended to assist school districts in Florida in the implementation of the 1999 Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma. First, the specific state rules related to student performance standards, course descriptions, and graduation requirements are cited. Twenty-five questions and answers present the guidelines, which address:…

Decentralization is arguably one of the most important phenomena to come on to the educational planning agenda in the last 15 years. Why a country should decentralize its educational decision-making process and which decisions should be decentralized are two questions that many decision-makers raise. This booklet is intended to provide educational…

The State of Maryland has published this guide that provides State and local personnel, architects, and governmental officials with the method of operation and administration of the State's Public School Construction Program. The material is arranged in sequential order and follows a project from inception through design, construction, and…

The public view of charter schools and their proposed mission will have a major impact on how well this school reform effort will be sustained. Support for charter schools in Pennsylvania has grown to such an extent that it may prevent demand for voucher systems. Parents dissatisfied with public schools elected to transfer their children to…