This Quick Reference Document has been prepared by the Regional Resource Center Program ARRA/Fiscal Priority Team to aid RRCP State Liaisons and other (Technical Assistance) TA providers in understanding the general context of state questions surrounding excess cost. As a "first-stop" for TA providers in investigating excess cost…

Higher energy prices and the growing concern about global warming have led to a number of policy goals and targets designed to curb global warming and/or the development of alternative sources of energy. However, the Tinbergen Rule states that for each and every policy target there must be at least one policy tool. If there are fewer tools than…

Principals are critical to the success of any school improvement effort--from increasing academic rigor toward college- and career-ready standards to teacher evaluation and support. They ensure this success by building a strong, shared vision and leading effective implementation for staff, students, and families. The federal government has an…

This study examined whether instructional policies at the local level are becoming standardized as a result of state and federal accountability initiatives. A stratified random sample of 21 Virginia school districts was used, and the policies reviewed covered seven topics: class size, student grouping, homework, remedial instruction programs,…

Examines three questions: As the focus of regulation has shifted toward environmental and health issues and scientific rulemaking has emerged, what has been the experience with "shared and sequential policymaking" and "policymaking based on evidence"? What is the potential for the future? and What is the new role of science in…

This document contains the text of a Congressional oversight hearing on Public Law 98-621, the St. Elizabeths Hospital and District of Columbia Mental Health Services Act, which became law in November 1984 and which transferred St. Elizabeths Hospital from federal control to that of the government of the District of Columbia. The text of Public…

Discusses two views of the relationship between technical issues and policy decisions. Also discusses the "burden-of-proof" issue, distributional issues, and issues related to public participation and decision making. Indicates a need for greater introspection into nontechnical values and preferences affecting the selection of evidence and its…

For many years, most states have had strategies to support and improve low-performing schools. The recent passage of the 2001 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA 2001) provides states with an additional opportunity to ensure all schools perform at least at a proficient level. The revised ESEA contains two main components that directly…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 builds on earlier federal laws and clarifies the obligations school boards have toward employees with disabilities. One useful tool for figuring out what reasonable accommodations are necessary is the Work Experience Survey. A resource list identifies additional sources of information on employer…

The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, establishes deficit targets to lead to a balanced unified budget by fiscal year 1993. If the Office of Management and Budget projects a deficit in excess of the target amount plus $10 billion, the President must issue a sequester order to reduce budget resources…

This annual report describes the activities of the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control in 1983 and makes recommendations to the House of Representatives to control the worldwide problem of drug abuse and drug trafficking. An initial section of the report describes the jurisdiction, authority, funding, and organization of the…

This document presents testimony heard on S. 2418, a bill to authorize the Librarian of Congress to construct the Library of Congress Mass Book Deacidification Facility at Fort Detrick, near Frederick, Maryland, subject to the supervision and construction authority of a federal, civilian, or military agency. The facility would be used to…

The Medicare Catastrophic Loss Prevention Act of 1987, a bill which would protect Medicare beneficiaries from catastrophic expenses associated with covered Medicare services is reported on in this document from the Senate Committee on Finance. The report opens with the Committee's recommendations that the bill pass as amended. The background and…

This document comprises a copy of a bill (S. 1270) and transcripts of hearings held in the U.S. Senate to amend Title 17, United States Code, regarding the Copyright Royalty Tribunal (CRT). An opening statement by Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, the text of comments and materials submitted by R.E. Turner of the Turner Broadcasting System,…

On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It sets deadlines for states to expand the scope and frequency of student testing, revamp their accountability systems, and guarantee that every classroom is staffed by a teacher qualified to teach in his or her subject area. It…