"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) Secretary Spellings Defends Bush Budget on Capitol Hill: Congress Expresses Concern over Education Cuts, Proposal to…

This report (written in Spanish) of the National Council on Disability (NCD) describes the nation's progress in advancing public policies to increase the inclusion, empowerment, and independence of people with disabilities in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The report covers December 2000 through December 2001. It reviews…

A study focused on the effect of welfare reform legislation on literacy or social service providers and families participating in the programs. Program staff and participants in Wisconsin and California were surveyed and interviewed to determine how welfare reform impacted what they do programmatically or personally. Findings indicated receipt of…

The November 1996 national election pits different education philosophies against each other; republicans want more local control, fewer rules, and greater school choice, while democrats talk of more federal funding while balancing the budget. The future of the Higher Education Act, African American influence in Congress, education committee…

Presents opposing viewpoints on federalism and state sovereignty. Charles J. Cooper argues for states powers based on a constructionist interpretation of the constitution. Herman Schwartz maintains that the national economy is so tightly intertwined, and the protection of civil liberties is too great to leave these functions to the states. (MJP)

Presents a lesson plan that examines the effects of Supreme Court decisions on state/federal relations using the issue of school safety. Student handouts discuss the constitutionality of the Gun Free School Zones Act as it relates to a specific criminal case. Activities include several structured discussions. (MJP)

Encapsulates a series of brief essays exploring different aspects of modern federalism. Issues include further protection of individual rights extended through state constitutions and federalism and the world economy. Authors include Robert F. Williams, Earl H. Fry, and Daniel J. Elazar. (MJP)

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) gives states wide discretion to define what students must learn, how that knowledge should be tested, what test scores constitute proficiency, set standards for high school graduation rates, teacher qualifications, school safety and many other aspects of school performance. As a result, states are largely free to define…

This monograph presents results of a 6-month study of the federal government and the Clinton Administration's proposal for a decade-long process of re-inventing the federal government's operations. Each of four major principles are presented in a chapter organized around specific steps towards its implementation. These principles are: cutting red…

This packet contains 11 2-page fact sheets on various facets of vocational, technical, and adult education. The fact sheets cover the following topics: (1) performance measures and standards--what the law says; (2) career academy programs; (3) integration of academic and vocational education; (4) tech prep education; (5) the Carl D. Perkins…

In this issue brief, a number of selected science and engineering concerns are discussed, along with initiatives that contain provisions to address these areas. These include the following: (1) precollege science and mathematics concerns such as teacher shortages, quality of science instruction, and the content of science courses; (2) mathematics…

In one of a series of hearings held in communities around the nation on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met to hear testimony from higher education administrators and others from the state of North Carolina. The witnesses addressed a full range of issues concerning higher…

This document contains transcripts of U.S. Senate hearings leading to the reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act. During the hearings, testimony and/or prepared statements were given by the U.S. Secretary of Education, representatives of business and industry (especially the training sector), educators (especially vocational education…

This volume contains the following 19 papers delivered at a national conference on the design of assessment of vocational education: "The National Assessment of Vocational Education: An Introduction" (Gilbert T. Sewall); "Vocational Education--Opportunity and Challenge: Perspectives on the National Assessment of Vocational…

The purposes, accomplishments, and future of the Higher Education Act are considered in hearings of the U.S. House of Representatives. A brief history of the Higher Education Act over the 20 years since its inception in 1965 is traced, and the role of the federal government in higher education is addressed. The centerpiece of the legislation was…