This study of the school board agenda-setting role among 30 Minnesota superintendents interprets their perceptions in relation to environmental contexts, group demands, issues control, and district enrollment size. A microperspective of David Easton's political systems model provided the guiding conceptual framework. Respondents were interviewed…

A 6-8 day secondary level social studies unit explores censorship in education through a variety of activities. Students participate in a preassessment poll measuring their opinions on academic freedom, answer a questionnaire entitled "What do you think?" concerning local school board and community powers, rank a list of possible teacher…

The bilingual education policies established by the Michigan State Board of Education as a result of four state and federal policy actions are summarized, and seven guidelines for action are presented. The seven guidelines for action include the following: (1) students receiving bilingual instruction should be encouraged and given assistance to…

This paper addresses the issue of community relations through a presentation given by the four members of the school board and administration of a medium-sized school district in Salem, Oregon. Community relations is defined as two-way communications between a school district and the public. Public feedback is necessary for improvement of…

This report describes a problem-solving approach to grievance settling and negotiations developed in the Brighton, Michigan, school district and inspired by the book, "Getting To Yes," by Roger Fisher and William Ury. In this approach teachers and administrators come to the table not with fixed positions but with problems both sides want…

This monograph, structured for administrative use in analyzing and building systems for selecting teachers, outlines the legal, applied, and theoretical issues of teacher selection. This overview is presented in five sections. "Legal Aspects of Teacher Selection" examines individual rights and employer reactions in relation to federal and state…

Policies of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education on the outreach program for adult students are outlined, along with procedures to be followed by participating institutions. The program encompasses both noncredit and credit instruction at all levels and may be offered on- or off-campus in traditional or nontraditional formats and time…

This manual is designed to help school boards and administrators avoid strikes, survive them, and recover from them when they are over. Chapter 1 distinguishes between public and private sector strikes; defines different kinds of strike strategies, negotiation goals, and strike goals; and provides a strike evaluation checklist for the employee…

This report analyzes the relationship between educational policymaking and educational practice in schools and classrooms by drawing lessons from recent attempts to reform schools with policy. Educational reform operates on the following loosely connected levels: (1) policy; (2) administration; and (3) practice. Policy can set the conditions for…

Pupil support services have been slow to gain attention in the educational reform movement of the 1980s. Accordingly, in this paper the New York State School Boards Association examines the policy issues surrounding pupil support services, their place in the educational system and the reform movement, and their potential to integrate and…

School principals perform a crucial role in discharging a school system's legal obligations toward the handicapped. Since principals are unable to supply money damages, they are rarely primary targets of lawsuits involving handicapped children, but their role in representing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to parents is critical. Thus,…

The comprehensive educational policies adopted and incorporated into law by the Navajo Tribal Council are contained in this booklet. These policies, adopted during a special session of the Navajo Tribal Council (November 13-16, 1984), are broad statements of the educational needs and aspirations of the Navajo people. The mission statement defines…

Handicapped students are now protected by specific statutes in addition to the broad constitutional protection offered all students. As the number of related statutes, regulations, and case law decisions grew, assimilation became increasingly difficult. This publication attempts to meet educators' need for a succinct guide in special education…

Education and law enforcement officials are all committed to ensuring that students throughout the nation are able to attend school safely, free from all forms of harassment. However, some students are subject to verbal and physical abuse and intimidation based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or sexual…

Recounts the experiences of Kansas social studies educators in designing and implementing a workable assessment instrument that would meet state requirements. The design emphasized five characteristics (thematic orientation, skills emphasis, social studies perspectives, variety of resources, and community orientation) constructed around a…