Context: The context for this article is the public response to the federal role in the oversight and enforcement of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This response has been characterized by a tension between concerns about federal interference in public education and support for…

Changing how the federal government reimburses states for foster care has been on the mind of reformers for more than 15 years. In an effort to advance the debate, the Department of Health and Human Services published an issue brief in 2005 that examines the relationship between federal Title IV-E funding and child outcomes at the state level. The…

Reporting on three hearings held this spring by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Reorganization Task Force, this article presents highlights from the testimony of Forrest Gerard, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and discusses the matrix system of organization currently under consideration by the BIA. (JC)

In this article, Bobby Ann Starnes, discusses cheating in the classroom and in the political world. She uses specific examples from her own school experiences and from president Bush's "Texas Miracle." She discusses what students consider as real needs for cheating, which include students staying eligible for sports or membership in…

The "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" is one of the most important legislative acts signed into law. The goals of this Act are clear; each state, school, and local education agency must make specific progress towards student achievement results each year until every child is 100 percent proficient by the year 2014. The goal of this…

This general management review (one in a series of management reviews of federal departments and agencies) identifies key management issues facing the U.S. Department of Education. This review assesses the management of the department and identifies actions that can be taken to improve organizational performance. Data were derived from 151…

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's effectiveness to end discrimination should never have been judged by the yardstick of the individual charge process. Reforms are taking place within the commission to create rapid charge resolution procedures and utilize funds more effectively. (Author/WI)

A description of the events occurring between the Congress and the Science Educational Directorate of the National Science Foundation from May 1975 to June 1977 are detailed. Issues facing a new director include: funding and budget problems, internal resentment and the proper federal role in curriculum development. (BT)

The relationship between American Indian timber lands and the Federal Government is discussed in terms of: (1) the economic importance of Indian timber; (2) the trust responsibility of the Federal Government; (3) the management responsibilities of the Federal Government as legislated by Congress; (4) the adequacy of Federal management of Indian…

This article examines some dimensions affecting governance of the nation and the conduct of its institutions. These include equalization of educational opportunity, development of research methodologies aimed at analyses of public policy-making, and accountability for public funding. (Author/MBR)

Over the last decade education in the United States has undergone perhaps its most significant transformation. Where in the past public schools have been primarily under the control of the local community, control has shifted to the state and federal levels. Furthermore, state and federal governments have introduced standardized testing and…

The issue of whether the federal government should outline and enforce an accountability system for states, school districts, and schools was essentially settled the day that George W. Bush took office as president. Bush had made "accountability" a cornerstone of his education platform, using his stated goal of ensuring equity for poor…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Senate Begins Debate on Education Spending Bill: White House Threatens Presidential Veto; (2) NCLB Timetable in…

Politicians, less interested in purity than in popularity, are generally wary of national standards. Yet a standards-based accountability system is the core component of NCLB, and in some ways it has made standards advocates victims of their own success. Now, many activists are agitating to cut back the role of Washington in education, and a…

This guide begins with background information useful to understanding Illinois' framework for implementation and evaluation of Programs of Study. It starts with a visual depiction of the relationships between activity at the federal, state and local levels that evolved to the creation of Illinois' Career Cluster Model. This Model, which is based…