The policies and procedures described in this manual were developed to implement court-ordered desegregation transportation service for the interdistrict transfer plan. For the most part, these policies and procedures have been in effect since the beginning of the 1982-83 school year. The State Board of Education has acknowledged these policies…

A national survey revealed that 13 states have created legislation to assist financially distressed schools. Focusing on two states, Indiana and Pennsylvania, the report outlines different methods they have developed to deal with financially distressed schools. In Pennsylvania a distressed school district is taken over by the state, whereas in…

The feelings that superintendents have about the methods used by school boards to evaluate their effectiveness may influence their motivation, relationship with the board, and organizational success. National studies reveal that 46.9 percent of superintendents have positive feelings, 18.3 have negative feelings, and 34.8 percent have neutral…

This document consists primarily of copies of overhead transparencies that outline the content of a presentation on the establishment of policy for the implementation of educational technology. Individual displays present three fundamental goals for the implementation of educational technology; broad areas affected by changes in technology; a…

A school board's proposal to require secondary school students to repeat all required courses in which they received grades of D or F would probably result in significant, unintended increases in enrollment, overcrowding of facilities, and a need to hire many additional staff members. Analysis of the district's current procedures, which deny…

To give Congress the information it needs to make informed decisions about initiatives aimed at school dropouts, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has published a two-phase report: Phase 1, "School Dropouts: The Extent and Name of the Problem" (see ED 274 756), completed in 1986, provides information on the dropout rate, characteristics of…

This manual, an update of the 1979 publication, "Pennsylvania Guidelines for Student Discipline," is intended for use by Pennsylvania school districts as they review or revise their student discipline codes. It presents a structure for responses to student misconduct, which lists student misbehaviors by type and assigns appropriate…

Legal battles are being waged over standards and regulations governing home schooling. Boards of education are advised to work out any accommodations they can with parents but to be prepared to consult with the school attorney. (MLF)

Demonstrates that school board members should periodically review their student transportation system to ensure safety, good drivers, and community support of schools. Describes how administrators gain operational understanding through field review and reporting their findings. Discusses data interpretation and application. Planning for community…

A school board member in Sarasota County, Florida, interviewed 30 failing students at five high schools to find out why they were failing. She concluded that more caring attitudes by school staff are needed to help these students to succeed in school. (TE)

Because society is not likely to become less litigious, the best defense for a school board is to sharpen its legal awareness. Every decision has the potential for litigation, whether it is over a banned Christmas pageant or a complex case of due process. (CJH)

The "Pico v. Island Trees Union Free School District" decision affirmed students' right to receive information under the First Amendment and concluded that removing books from school libraries infringes on that right. Book removals solely to suppress ideas are open to court review in the absence of clearly established administrative…

The selection of a school board president is as important as the superintendent's selection. Four ways not to choose a president are outlined, as well as six points of advice for the selection of good school board presidents. (MD)

Presents a New Jersey school board's method for revenue raising through bond approvals by the community. The key to this board's success is the involvement of citizens in the early decision-making process. (MD)

Describes a recent court decision in which a school board and the superintendent did not support a teacher when he came under fire from the community for teaching a controversial subject. The teacher won his case against the district because it had violated the academic freedom rule and denied the teacher due process.(MD)