In this paper, we report on teachers' use of curricula and other instructional resources to address Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as how use of instructional materials is related to instructional practice. We draw on data from the American Teacher Panel, a nationally representative sample of teachers who periodically provide…

Alternatives and recommendations to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges are presented for the accreditation of college academic and administrative personnel. The report first describes the present California credentials law, under which the Board of Governors is limited to prescribing professional or vocational experience…

The desegregation decision by a local school system sometimes is perceived as the result of pressure, and at other times as unrelated to overt pressure for desegregation. Contrary to both of these views, this exploratory study suggests that a positive desegregation decision may stem from the personal values of school board members. These values…

Statistical analysis of election results from four California counties over a twenty-year period (1956-1977) shows that the defeat of an incumbent school board member in one election increases the probability of incumbent defeats in the next three elections in the same district, while decreasing the probability of incumbent defeats in that…

This study examines the effects of partisan political activities on an educational referendum and junior college board of education election. The study focused on the activities of the California Democratic Council, a Democratic organization formed to make political endorsements that could not be made by the party. The election examined was held…

Despite the blizzard of reform activity since 1983, neither state legislation nor state education department mandates have diminished the failure rates of at-risk youngsters. One-third of all elementary students are at risk of failing academically. This paper reviews past state department of education reform efforts and suggests innovative ways…

Seventeen Southern California school districts participated in a pilot study intended to develop a framework for classifying district policies on retaining students. It was assumed that differences in district policy created varying levels of objectification of standards for decision making and varying degrees of work effort needed to implement…

Over the past three decades administrators of the California community college system have focused attention on system growth and expansion, changes in student body characteristics, and funding support problems while ignoring the system's principal function, teaching. In order to improve understanding of the teaching function and to elevate…

Forty-three percent of California school districts with one or more high schools have some sort of student representation on the board of education. Some observers have said that students act like adult board members, but that their interests at the beginning of each year make everyone keenly aware that they are students. In California, student…

This paper discusses three related studies conducted in California in the mid-1960s that investigated factors related to incumbent defeat in school board of elections and turnover in the school superintendency. The first study dealt with turnover in the superintendency subsequent to defeat of a single incumbent board member; a significant…

Individual members of state legislatures wield the greatest influence in state level policy formation. This was one of the findings of a study that identified the power and influence context of state-level policymaking. Data were gathered from six states (Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois) using an instrument…

This paper--part of a collection of 54 papers from the 48th annual conference of the Education Law Association held in November 2002--discusses open-meeting laws. All 50 states have adopted laws that require school officials to conduct their business in open sessions before the public and the press. This paper examines the Brown Act, California's…

Results of a study involving 450 teachers in three California school districts show that two sets of standards exist for judging the effectiveness of teacher unions. For union leaders, legitimacy means keeping promises to teachers by winning concessions from management and, at the same time, working toward a more credible and cooperative…

In response to legislative mandate, three proposals were developed for encouraging student participation in the governance of California's community colleges and for establishing a minimum standard regulation for local procedures. The proposals are intended to improve and enhance access to governance mechanisms, improve accountability, enhance the…

Conflict over authority between the California Legislature and the University of California is examined. While the University of California has broad constitutional autonomy over academic matters, organization, and governance, the legislature has certain authority over the university under its own constitutional and budgetary powers. Attention is…