Several years after the passage of NCLB, there are persistently low-performing schools in every state that face increasingly strong consequences for failing to improve student achievement sufficiently. In particular, schools that fail to make AYP for five consecutive years must engage in restructuring to improve student learning. Districts have…

This handbook is designed to serve as a report on negotiations that took place during the 104th and 105th Congresses that lead to the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) amendments of 1997. In addition, the events and changes in the cultural climate during the 106th Congress and its impact on IDEA is also discussed,…

On March 18-19, 2002, over 1,200 women entrepreneurs from America convened in Washington, D.C., for an interactive conference. Hundreds of others participated via satellite. Delegates participated in workshops, panel discussions, and interactive voting sessions and heard presentations. Workshops focused on access to capital, trade, health…

Procedures that have been used for assessing a discrepancy between ability and achievement of students suspected to have a learning disability are examined. Methodological deficiencies and/or unavailability of conclusive validity evidence are cited to support the conclusion that all of the procedures are worthless for screening purposes. (SEW)

Future federal education policy should shift from complex, detailed regulations to broader grants of authority to state governments, with clear guidelines that specify national goals. Past federal activities, classified as distributive, regulatory, or redistributive, are reviewed to assess factors indicating effectiveness. (CJ)

Argues that the Reagan Administration halted the rapid expansion of bilingual education by reducing federal funding; redefined and weakened bilingual education policies by including single language programs within the definition of bilingual education; and severely restricted the civil rights aspects of bilingual education. Contains 38 references.…

This paper traces the involvement of the federal government (through subsidy, regulation, judicial, and administrative agency activity) in the education of students with disabilities at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels. Government involvement through subsidy in the 19th century was usually in the form of establishing special…

The content of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act is described, its current interpretations are examined, and the implications for developing a responsible language and citizenship curriculum to conform to the legislation are discussed. Specific attention is focused on the law's requirement that illegal aliens applying for amnesty and…

This report concerns the governance of the structure of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), especially the law and the role of the Assessment Policy Committee (APC). The major sources of evidence include interviews with APC members and National Institute of Education (NIE) staff, minutes of APC meetings and historical documents…

Federal policies toward higher education and their interaction (or lack of interaction) with state policies are described. Characterized are the differing historical roles played by the state and federal governments in shaping American higher education. Administrative arrangements, types, and dimensions of federal funding for students and…

This report is an assessment of the energy needs and concerns of the United States cultural community: performing and visual arts groups, museums, historic properties, archives, libraries, community arts centers, zoos, aquariums, scientific collections, auditoriums, and individual artists and craftsmen. The findings and recommendations represent a…

The Yeshiva University court decision is examined, in which the faculty was included with administrators as managers of the university, negating any right of the faculty to unionize. The decision is discussed in light of research on the decision-making process at colleges and universities and the roles of professionals in these institutions. The…

Recent Australian policy allowing higher education institutions to market their services to overseas students at full cost and the resulting pressures to privatize public higher education further are discussed in the context of both general educational and economic principles and the specific conditions of Australian education. (MSE)

A review of policy and practice concerning the accreditation of dental schools and certification of dentists looks at licensure by examination and by credentials, state vs. national examinations, retention of licenses, certification for specialties, and a variety of accrediting issues. Related case law is also reviewed. (MSE)

This report presents samples of models and strategies for determining professional development needs of special education personnel. The following areas are covered: definitions of needs and the needs assessment process; personnel needs assessment regulations under the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, the Individuals with…