This article identifies supporters and opponents of charter schools at all levels of government and describes their motivations and behaviors. It is explained that state and local support for charter schools is most often determined by educational needs and material incentives. Different political contexts produce different charter school…

The California case of Senate Bill 90 displays the changing nature of state education coalitions and demonstrates the usefulness of coalition concepts advanced by William Riker for analyzing the success and direction of school finance legislation. (Author/IRT)

In a major development in the state politics of resource allocation, two rival political movements--school finance reform supporters and spending/tax limitation supporters--are going to confront each other in several states. (Author/IRT)

Examines the differences in attitude toward education in the two political parties' platforms and candidates for president, but observes that overall federal policy trends have reduced the ability of the federal government to intervene in a major way in education. (Author/IRT)

Outlines the components of the networks supporting school finance reform (increasing spending to increase equity) and supporting spending or tax limitations. Discusses areas of conflict between the two networks. Available from Transaction Periodicals Consortium, Dept. 541, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. (IRT)

The evolution and governing structure for teacher education and certification provide the context for analyzing the probable impact and issues caused by the implementation of performance-based teacher education (PBTE). Because the concept of PBTE is still being refined, such an analysis must be of a prescriptive and speculative nature. However,…

Specifies some of the conflicts in philosophies, values, and priorities regarding scientific knowledge present in the development of science education curriculum standards through the use of the "Science for All Americans project." Excerpts interviews to identify key issues. Examines interest groups concerned with controversial issues…

This paper explores the future of school finance through an examination of the size and distribution of future populations, the future of the economy and its effect on money available for schools, and the political context within which decisions will be made. It projects this knowledge over the decade of the 1980s and makes future predictions…

The papers in this report fall into three focus areas: (1) new goals and objectives for educational institutions, with a stress on normative analysis of public policy alternatives and a reexamination of prior assumptions on which research is based; (2) the political education of youth, with a particular examination of directions in research on…

The movement toward math and science curriculum standards is inextricably linked with high-stakes politics. There are two major types of politics discussed in this paper: the allocation of curriculum content, and the political issues involved in systemic change. Political strategies for gaining assent to national, state, and local content…

This report, the result of a 5-day conference on the politics of education, reviews the four research focus areas covered during the conference: (1) new goals and objectives for educational institutions, (2) the political education of youth, (3) analysis of the governance of educational institutions, and (4) the study of input/output/feedback…

This hypothesis-generating study of New York, Michigan and California social services for children attempts to assess the adequacy of Title XX social service programs, the WIC (women, infants and children) feeding program, and the EPSDT (early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment) program. Data were obtained through literature searches,…

Article talks about who makes curriculum decisions and the problems involved. Discusses the different pressure groups and organizations that have influence in the area of curriculum decisions. (ML)

This paper discusses the methodologies used in a study analyzing the administration of Federal aid in California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, and Texas. The study, conducted by a team, was designed to integrate the case study method with the comparative method. The author describes the methodologies used in the study, outlines the…

This booklet is one of a series of reports addressing the most critical issues confronting state boards of education throughout the United States. Each report attempts to present a concise, informative review and analysis of the best and most current information available on one of these critical topics. This booklet focuses on improving…