Describes a study examining the degree to which state educational policies, state funding, and local policies dictate English-as-a-Second-Language programming. Cites four policy and funding variables that had a major influence on programs offered. Reviews four curricular designs found in the study and provides recommendations based on findings.…

The University of Texas at El Paso instituted a strategic planning framework with the intent of expanding and maintaining long-term participation by faculty, staff, and other constituents. The four-phase process included generating more open dialog about the future; responding to a powerful external incentive for self-assessment; preparing for…

Explores six court cases in which the court addressed the permissibility of aid to higher education under the federal constitution. While state court interpretations may shift because of "Ex Corde Ecclesiae," the Papal constitution on higher education, it is seen as unlikely that federal or state taxing authorities will revoke…

Examines the developments behind the Missouri versus Jenkins Supreme Court decision involving public school desegregation. The author discusses Justice Thomas's concurring opinion, viewing it as an expression of black nationalist ideology, that is, blacks alone should determine their destiny and should do so without seeking the company of whites.…

Outlines four major areas of legal compliance that college and university fund raisers should be aware of: registration of soliciting organizations (solicitation type and parameters); provision of documents on demand; telemarketing and direct mail regulations (disclosure statements, calling-time restrictions); and the trustees' relationship with…

Student achievement test results are the coin of the realm in educational accountability systems in the United States. For a number of years, both states and the federal government have relied heavily on tests to judge the quality of schools. The exact characteristics of the accountability systems have evolved over the years and vary a good deal…

Public policy affects the experiences of workers and their families, both directly and indirectly. For example, employment-focused statutes such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Employment Retirement and Income Security Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act establish frameworks for…

Using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) state assessment and a survey of state-level technology policies, this study examined digital equity in education as a multilevel organizational phenomenon with data from 70,382 students in 3,479 schools and 40 states. Students in rural schools or schools with higher…

The history of intergovernmental relations in educational policy has been dominated by regulations, categorical programs, and technical assistance by higher levels of government to stimulate or require lower levels to make changes in policy and practice. This paper summarizes recent research collected by the Consortium of Policy Research in…

Today, a parent's right to choose a private education for his or her children is reflected in the statutes of all 50 states. State regulation of private schools, however, is not without limitations. The challenge to state legislators in regulating private schools is to draft legislation that: (1) respects the fundamental right of parents to direct…

This booklet contains information designed to familiarize personnel at charter schools in North Carolina with the financial services offered by the Division of School Business and the reporting requirements of the division. The division seeks to ensure fair and equitable distribution of and accountability for the optimal use of state and federal…

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) operates under two main statutory charges: to administer state and federal programs, and to serve as the state's lead agent in implementing the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. This report presents the results of a contracted program evaluation of the ODE. Data were collected through document…

Shifts in child care policies are on the horizon. Congress has passed landmark changes in federal welfare programs that will have a major impact on the demand for child care and require states to re-examine many of their current child care policies. This paper by the Children's Defense Fund is intended to help child care advocates understand the…

This study explored the university/state relationship during a time of teacher education certification reform at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Data for the study consisted of archival texts including elementary education area faculty meeting minutes and departmental memos, creating a case study of reform. Michel Foucault's notion of…

In order to develop a more uniform approach to determining the population of limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals in the United States, and for purposes of educational decisions and resource allocation, the definition of this particular population is discussed in this theme issue. First, approaches currently used to estimate the size of…