Despite increasing animal prevalence in public spaces, few districts have proactively developed policies to integrate assistance, therapy, service, and emotional support animals that are both legally sound and support the needs of individual students. Federal legislation defines a variety of animals that could accompany students, but only those…

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, school system has instituted a program to improve attendance based on a year-long Danforth Foundation study of national attendance improvement measures. (JM)

Administrators can avoid legal and personnel problems by ensuring that staff members, students, and parents clearly understand school board policies and procedures. Five steps are essential: adoption of official policy, policy dissemination, policy interpretation, development of handbooks, and action to ensure thorough communication with affected…

The principal is expected to resolve conflict that stems from school board policy clashing with personal need. Board policy of necessity deals in generalities. A parallel is drawn between the principal and the sin-eater--the man who, for little payment, was believed to consume the sins of the deceased. (Author/MLF)

One Iowa school district has established a credit plan that offers credit to teachers who improve their classroom effectiveness through special projects, local inservice sessions, or workshops. (Author)

Pressured by public safety concerns, school boards have begun to adopt exclusionary policies and screening programs for pupils and employees infected with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus. This article reviews recent court decisions based on the "handicapped individual" defense and urges administrators to present…

In 1976, the White Bear Lake, Minnesota, school district instituted an affirmative action program that ultimately increased the number of female administrators from 8 to 12.5 (out of a total of 41.5 administrators). (JM)

Takes the reader step-by-step through the sequence of events required to develop an alternative educational program. (Author/JM)

Schools and their staffs can expect challenges from the New Right. The author presents some practical ideas for coping with the challenge. (Author/JM)

In pointing out the problems involved in evaluation by administrators, the author presents a strong argument for collegial evaluation and presents a proposal outlining a flexible system for peer evaluation of teachers. (MD)

Chaska High School (Minnesota) established a firm district policy to prevent unauthorized, illegal duplication of computer software by teachers and students. The policy's success depends on an ethics re-education program for users, increased funding for software, and a preview library for teachers. (MLH)

Describes a plan for developing a policy for helping school staff overcome chemical dependencies. Provides an example of a written school district policy addressing the matter. (MD)