The gradual shift to state control of schools has spawned unintentional results, including a negative impact on teacher autonomy and professionalism. Although states' major role should be establishing a core curriculum, local flexibility is essential for adapting school policies to varied needs and utilizing staff abilities. Local school boards…

Article talks about who makes curriculum decisions and the problems involved. Discusses the different pressure groups and organizations that have influence in the area of curriculum decisions. (ML)

This book offers a comprehensive analysis and description of the political aspects of American education, utilizing both empirical data and case studies on the politics of education. Included are two case studies of recent school policies, which focus on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and the school desegregation…

This paper presents research findings to help policymakers understand and select various options for holding schools accountable for their performance and to help them devise a multistrategy accountability system. However, it does not recommend one system over another, since a given accountability option must be compatible and adapted to…

This booklet is one of a series of reports addressing the most critical issues confronting state boards of education throughout the United States. Each report attempts to present a concise, informative review and analysis of the best and most current information available on one of these critical topics. This booklet focuses on improving…

Most disadvantaged children have multiple needs that require a comprehensive, integrated approach to service delivery. A recent study of the conditions of children reported the following changes since 1969 that warrant a reassessment of service delivery: (1) the number of children living in poverty has increased; (2) family structure and working…

In the 20 years since the major Federal program for the disadvantaged began, surprisingly little has changed from its original vision. It is now time to question some of the basic policies of Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act in view of the change in conceptions about the Federal role and the recent state and local…

The best response to this period of retrenchment and lack of support for education is more aggressive political activity at the state and local levels. The key to success is building coalitions among educational interest groups and potential allies in other services. Although the federal government greatly expanded its support of education in the…

Commissioned papers on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) have recommended new roles for NAEP, but its system of governance, as conceived in the 1960s, was not designed for all these functions. The NAEP Policy Committee, revised in 1978, never envisioned the current interest in a linkage system relating local and state…

Local control is emphasized in this examination of the roles of state, federal, and local governments in education policy and change. Federal and state role priorities should be to provide resources and stimulation for the major decisions and changes at the school site. The role of the state in school district governance, which has steadily been…

The federal government role is significant in the San Francisco vocational education system which has two primary delivery systems--the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and Community College District (SFCCD). The SFUSP is hampered by the city's pluralistic and decentralized governance approach. Although the state was not irrelevant in…

Nine major forces which will have influenced California public schools in the 1970-80 decade are discussed: reform initiatives; declining enrollment; declining public support; the Serrano decision; collective bargaining; Proposition 13; school integration; likelihood of an educational voucher system; and a proposed statewide spending limit. (MH)