Local governance of education is based on recognizing and protecting the rights of minorities while attempting to meet the needs of all. Legally, various courts across the country have upheld the rights of school officials to make choices regarding curriculum textbooks, library books, and general subject matter. Board policy should include the…

This handbook is designed to serve as a guide to help school boards understand collective bargaining and the labor-management relationships in their districts. Chapter 1 describes what school-board members need to know. Chapter 2 discusses some of the political and legal realities that school boards face in the collective-bargaining process.…

This document outlines a program for schools to encourage the development of values, attitudes, and knowledge foster constructive interpersonal relationships. Cooperative learning, conflict resolution, structured controversy, and school mediation can form the core of a comprehensive program for educating beyond hate. Cooperative learning includes…

This monograph summarizes what is known about youth and violence, identifying 10 myths that confound people's understanding of the real causes of youth violence. It focuses on: what contributes to youth violence (e.g., children exposed to domestic violence are at risk of using violence, children and adolescents use guns when they are easily…

With state budgets in trouble across the United States, many school districts have already been hit with midyear cuts. Morale is the first and biggest issue administrators and school boards have to tackle. Successful leaders must be able to forecast what lies ahead and plan for the future. Good communication with staff and the public is crucial to…

The environmental movement of the 1960's and early 1970's resulted in unprecedented attention to environmental issues both in the mass media and in the scholarly literature. Interest has waned in recent years, with a concomitant erosion of coverage of what many consider enduring problems--particularly in water and air pollution and nuclear power.…

Recently, policy makers have begun to insist on evidence showing whether public investment in programs for children has achieved its desired results. No longer will it be sufficient to show that programs are meeting established standards for practice or that families are satisfied with services. Data are needed to show that services are effective.…

Describes the growing trend of conflicts between school boards and superintendents, some of the various causes behind these conflicts, and practical steps board members and superintendents can take to avoid and to solve them. (IW)

The potential for conflict of interest in college and university trustees is high. A 1974 court decision (Stern vs. Sibley Memorial Hospital) established guidelines for trustees of nonprofit organizations, and a survey of 566 colleges and universities reveals how institutions are managing such conflicts through policy statements and…

This handbook is intended to assist policy boards and Interagency Coordinating Councils in developing and writing clear guidelines for implementing Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act which mandates early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities. Principles are rooted in a "family systems"…

This paper reports on a 50-state telephone survey on the development of family policies through implementation of Public Law 99-457 (Part H), the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act with emphasis on policies regarding consent, confidentiality, access to records, and dispute resolution. The survey addressed questions of family…

The relationship between state governments and higher education institutions is analyzed, based on findings of research conducted in 25 states. After considering the multiple higher education institutions and their post-World War II development in the various states, the book reviews major studies concerned with state government and college…

This New York State study evaluated problems encountered by children with handicapping conditions and their parents (N=1,486) in obtaining a free, appropriate public education. The majority (64 percent) of parents were satisfied with their child's educational program. Only 19 percent were dissatisfied. Parents of children with physical…

In spite of the different opinions among educators in the public and nonpublic sectors, dialog should be opened by educational policymakers. This report is intended as a resource for facilitating liaison mechanisms between the two sectors. The first section provides an overview of possible causes of conflicts between public and nonpublic schools.…

Criteria for self-study by private college governing boards are presented. For each criterion, questions are presented, along with three response options: "yes,""no," and "do not know or can not judge." A response option for judging the board's overall performance on each criterion is also included. In addition, brief introductory comments for…