The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to educate students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The IDEA does not require mainstreaming in all cases; however, in several recent cases, courts began to tip the scales in favor of inclusive programming for these students. Reviews cases…

One of the most perplexing realities concerning the attitudes of American citizens toward the proper or desired role of government in society has been an almost schizophrenic mindset for demanding less government, at least in the abstract, while at the same time asking more of that same government in the particular. If, for example, one asks the…

Using Canada as a case study, this article argues that regulating biotechnology and nanotechnology is made unnecessarily complex and inherently unstable because of a failure to consult the public early and often enough. Furthermore, it is argued that future regulators (and promoters) of nanotechnology may learn valuable lessons from the mistakes…

The February 7, 2005 report by the Honorable Bob Rae--"Ontario: A Leader in Learning"--focused national attention, at least fleetingly, on a matter of prime importance to Canada's future: vulnerable state of higher education in this country, a subject that has, unfortunately, largely escaped serious public discussion. Although Mr. Rae, a…

Use factors comprise those characteristics or elements present in evaluation settings that potentially affect use. This paper focuses on one such use factor, termed "written requirements for the evaluation." This factor includes the evaluation requirements accompanying federally-funded programs. Two questions are dealt with: how does…

The introduction of Direct Broadcasting Satellites (DBS) in the United States sparked both government's regulatory development of domestic DBS services and the communication industry's efforts to implement a commercial DBS system. J. D. Slack's symptomatic causality and technological assessment models help to explain how these practices were…

This bulletin focuses on the views of four authors. The first, Daniel R. Davies, describes the rise and fall of local control and local school board policies and predicts how the vacuum will be filled. Specifically, he analyzes the concomitant waning of local control and school board policymaking power and forecasts stages in the transition from…

This is a congressional oversight hearing on the vocational rehabilitation program in Pennsylvania. It looks at the present program in light of the Federal statutory requirements and legislative intent. Testimony includes statements, prepared statements, letters, supplemental materials, etc., from a state senator, a Representative in Congress, and…

Evaluating the charge that federal regulation of education is "excessive" entails a political analysis of regulatory problems and of the relative cost efficiencies of providing equal educational opportunity, the goal of much federal regulation. The theoretical framework for this political explanation emphasizes the "implementation…

The report of the Donee Group (a coalition of public interest, social action, and volunteer groups acting as advisors to the Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs) on the characteristics of private philanthropy is presented. After an introductory section, the perspectives of the Donee Group and those of the Commission are surveyed.…

A review of national presidential election campaigns since the passage of Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 indicates the inadequacies of that section and the need for its revision. Section 315 stipulates equal access to the mass media for all legally qualified political candidates. Basically, the difficulty with Section 315 is that it…

The Oregon state Title I office has developed two needs assessment guidebooks to assist districts in complying with Title I needs assessment regulations. The first guidebook was developed in 1974. Following its dissemination, needs assessment procedures in Title I districts were closely monitored for compliance with the regulations, and it was…

Presented to a symposium sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to consider some of the issues involved in the continuing growth of a few large companies in the field of communication, this address cites statements of concern, made by the Supreme Court and by some periodicals, that excessive concentrations of power threaten First…

Several factors should be considered by attorneys representing school boards faced with the need for administrative hearings concerning the education of a handicapped child. Attorneys should try first to resolve the problem without resort to the formality of a hearing. If a hearing is necessary, the issues should be determined; a hearing examiner…

This symposium paper discusses ways the federal government is and has been involved in parenting since the foundation of the nation. Included in this discussion are the federal role in funding research related to families and parenting; family research conducted by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW); the National Institute of…