The author helped St. Andrew's Scots School, in Buenos Aires, formulate a statement of values that did justice to the school's "Scottish" past, its multicultural present, and its future. All school and community segments were encouraged to participate. Participants found unanimity in the Golden Rule, embodied in moral values such as…

Summarizes the results of a study designed to identify minimum standards for the initial licensure of secondary social studies teachers in the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Provides statistical data on required coursework, competencies, and performance criteria. Individual states are not listed. (MJP)

In the federal case from New Jersey, "Taxman v. Board of Education of Township of Piscataway," the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a school board cannot use affirmative-action guidelines to decide which employees will be laid off. This article explains the precedents upon which the court based its August 1996 decision. (LMI)

Provides a state-by-state summary of the progress made in implementing national standards for arts curricula and assessment. Forty-four states either have adopted standards or are vigorously working on their implementation. This is an enormous improvement over last year's participation of only six states. (MJP)

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…

Argues that school boards must focus on improving academic achievement within the context of budget cuts, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision that educational vouchers are constitutional. Recommends affirmative school-board action such as developing school-community partnerships. (PKP)

Although the Supreme Court's "Mergens" decision settled the controversy over the constitutionality of the Equal Access Act, the ruling seems to make more ambiguous the definition of a limited open forum for student expression and the legal status of devotional activities. (55 references) (MLF)

Discusses the barriers to the success of the Yonkers (New York) public school district's desegregation plan. Provides a profile of the district and an explanation of its governance. Presents the plan for desegregation and discusses the financial obstacles to its implementation. Discusses the need for additional aid and assistance. (JS)

Budgeting trends that will occupy the attention of school boards in the coming years include: (1) learning to do without; (2) streamlining the number of administrators; (3) repairing aging school infrastructures; (4) responding to changes in demographics; and (5) removing environmental hazards. (MLF)

Discusses the use of technology in the classroom and presents a model for its use in public schools. Highlights include the role of teachers; teacher education; the role of parents; business and industry's involvement; and implementation suggestions for state boards of education, local school boards, and individual schools. (21 references) (LRW)

A survey of 1,066 teachers, administrators and school board members suggests these "stakeholders" prefer the teacher education programs already in place; feel teachers should be selected from the top 75 percent of college graduates, paid more, supervised (at school district expense) their first year, and teach only their major field.…

Discusses development of program specifications for school support services based on incorporating behavioral aspects into design and evaluating costs on a life-cycle basis. Includes categories of support services, responsibilities for developing specifications, and one district's approach. (17 references) (MLF)

Examines how principals view the importance of the following: (1) tasks of media specialists; (2) standards of the State Board of Education and of accrediting agencies; and (3) media specialists' responsibilities in planning media programs, public relations efforts, and other media activities. (MS)

The summer drought, the oil-market slump, and the desire for political popularity are among the causes for state financial problems. A report by the National Governors' Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers found that in 1987, the amount of money left in general-fund accounts was at its lowest point in 12 years. (MLW)

Describes a study of the location of decision-making authority in state community colleges at the college or governance board level. Examines differences in authority for academic, personnel, and administrative matters. Suggests that decision-making authority generally rested at the local level, although personnel decisions were more likely to be…