Designed to aid school personnel considering school choice as a possible desegregation method, this booklet explains the principles of controlled choice, presents an overall plan and flow chart, and reviews the types of organizations that might be developed. Controlled choice is a desegregation method that is voluntary, empowers parents and school…

The report asserts that Massachusetts has failed to comply with the integration mandate of state and federal special education laws. An initial section reviews the importance of integration, noting the effects of stigmatization on children's development. Specific legal requirements are detailed along with responsibilities of the Massachusetts…

Horace Mann's goal of creating a common school that brings our society's children together in mutual respect and common learning need not be frustrated by residential segregation and geographical separation of the haves and have-nots. Massachusetts' new common school vision boasts a Metro Program for minority students, 80 magnet schools, and…

Describes how Massachusetts is overhauling its approach to the education of handicapped children. Discusses how things used to be, the push for change, and a new Massachusetts law that assigns to local school districts the responsibility for special education. Explains how to get education legislation drafted and enacted. (Author/DN)

This pamphlet is designed to help school personnel in Massachusetts achieve equal opportunity in physical education and sports programs for all students, regardless of sex. Answers are provided for some of the most commonly raised questions on this issue: (1) Do the regulations require that all physical education classes be coeducational? (2) Do…

This report summarizes the recommendations of a study on higher education in Massachusetts, reviews in tabular format the estimated costs of adopting the recommendations, and briefly comments on the recommendations. Recommendations concern six areas: access to higher education and equalization of educational opportunity; public higher education;…

This document reports the findings and recommendations of a study of a number of high level policy issues in Massachusetts higher education. Findings indicate: (1) Massachusetts is not doing all it could to provide equal access and opportunity to its citizens. (2) The present physical plant of public higher education is probably adequate to meet…

It is difficult to argue with the proposition that access to higher education in the United States is essentially based on class. Despite the fact that there has been a commitment on the part of the states and the federal government to provide access to a higher education for all eligible students, the truth is that "public higher education…

A series of professional development workshops for the faculty of personnel certification programs was prepared at the request of the Massachusetts Department of Education. The new equity standards in teacher and administrator certification in Massachusetts call for instruction in gay and lesbian issues. This resource manual presents materials to…

Hispanic, Cape Verdean, and Haitian students, unlike European immigrant children, do not have equal educational opportunity in Massachusetts public schools. Bilingual education alone is insufficient to prepare students for the challenges they must meet in order to take advantage of opportunities available in secondary and higher education. (GC)

The Institute for Education and Social Policy assessed the relationship between standards-based reform and the charter school movement in four states: Texas, Massachusetts, California, and Louisiana. These states were selected because they are the focus of other projects sponsored by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and because, as a group,…

Discusses the difficulties of funding parental or school choice systems in public schools through traditional school finance mechanisms. It examines the parental-choice program as enacted in Massachusetts, and reveals that parental choice undermines local control over education. It also explores school choice and educational equity, arguing…

Two studies employed differing levels of analysis to explain the distribution of preschool availability, examining distribution in 100 counties nationwide and using zip-code-level data for Massachusetts. Together the studies show that the degree of distributional equity varies among states and locales, conditioned by household and policy…

Critiques a November 1999 "Kappan" article praising one charter school's special-education program, arguing that most Massachusetts for-profit charter schools receive funding for disabled students whom they refuse to serve. These schools have excluded, counseled out, mistreated, and withheld needed services from numerous students with…

This report on urban education in Massachusetts deals specifically with issues of desegregation. In the first section, seven effective, desegregated school districts are profiled: Boston, Cambridge, Holyoke, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Following this section is a paper on educational equity for linguistic minority students…