Parents need to understand the responsibilities of people at all levels of school governance. This paper discusses the role of the state government (usually state boards of education), the local school board, the superintendent, and the principal. A sidebar presents information on teamwork involving PTAs, principals, superintendents, and school…

The Massachusetts Board of Education Task Force on Public School Youth, Education, and Employment concluded that, in general, the structure of effective policy in the area of preparing youth for employment was already in place. Given changes in workplace requirements and problems schools currently face, however, it was determined that the State…

This is a review of a case considered by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education regarding charges brought by the Puerto Rican Congress and Council of Puerto Rican Organizations against the Trenton, Mercer County, Board of Education. The Commissioner of Education evaluated the Trenton Board's performance in adhering to State laws in the following…

A national survey revealed that 13 states have created legislation to assist financially distressed schools. Focusing on two states, Indiana and Pennsylvania, the report outlines different methods they have developed to deal with financially distressed schools. In Pennsylvania a distressed school district is taken over by the state, whereas in…

Appropriations requests made by state coordinating boards or individual systems for 1988-89 and the political outlook for higher-education-related legislation are outlined for each of the 50 states. (MSE)

The California Legislature approved a bill to reform the state's community-college system by transferring most of the Legislature's power over the colleges to the state board that coordinates their governance. The bill also makes major changes in the colleges financing, the courses they offer, and the tenure process. (MLW)

West Virginia officials and Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. have been unable to reach agreement on how to accommodate a mandated late-in-the-year budget cut, with some officials questioning the move's legality and the governor rejecting the regents' proposed early closing for state colleges and universities. (MSE)

This paper contains executive summaries of the productivity-quality efforts of nine independent Illinois colleges and universities. The summaries typically include descriptions of the type of student population served, the type of campus, the institution's mission statement, and major areas in which degrees are offered. Specific initiatives to…

This report of the Committee on Student Learning to the 73rd Texas Legislature addresses committee structure and membership, the charges to the committee as established in House Bill 2885, and the committee's key actions during its first year. The committee focused on receiving research and discussing issues related to outcomes-driven education,…

The legislative outlook for higher education is summarized state by state. Appropriations requests show the amount sought by state-wide coordinating boards or by individual college and university systems, not by governors. All appropriations requests are for operating expenses of the 1989-1990 fiscal and academic years. (MLW)

This document presents a Michigan State Advisory Council for Vocational Education report on the status of, and need for, career and vocational guidance in the schools. It discusses projected changes in the labor force; decreases in the number of youth entering the workforce; and increases in the numbers of high school dropouts, pregnant teenagers,…

Changes being made in public college governance are increasingly motivated by state governments' desire to have state boards exercise more policy leadership on some difficult higher education issues, including setting up productive university-industry economic development ventures, minority student recruiting, and improving teacher education. (MSE)

State reforms of teacher education formally adopted since 1986 are reported, including statewide initiatives by legislatures, higher education governing and coordinating boards, boards of education, and teacher certification boards. (MSE)

This report is intended to help state education policymakers expand their comprehension of how race, culture, language, gender, and socioeconomic status have an impact on teaching and learning and influence the school experience. The report calls for: multiculturalism in education; broad cultural inclusion; and consideration of every facet of the…

A vigorous, well-financed lobbying drive organized by supporters of higher education managed to cajole the Texas Legislature and the Governor to award large increases in state support. At the same time laws to stop the growth of some institutions, to raise academic standards, and overhaul teacher education were adopted. (MLW)