This document is comprised of the six issues in volume 16 of the Harvard Education Letter, a bimonthly newsletter addressing current issues in elementary and secondary education. Articles in this volume include the following: (1) January-February--"Grade Inflation: What's Really behind All Those A's?" (Birk) and "Every Friday was Fight Day"…

This bulletin on the use of the schoolhouse as a polling place is divided into two sections. Part I, Use of Schoolhouse for Political Purposes, explains why this practice is beneficial to the schools (allows youth to witness and understand the civic process) and to the public (it is economical, worthy, appropriate, convenient, permanent,…

An investigation was conducted among New South Wales secondary school administrators to determine their agreement on decision-making responsibility for: educational administration, curriculum, teacher-student, and school-community relations. (Note: Page f. . .=fiche number.) (Author/MH)

Summarizes strategies most likely to be effective in promoting healthy eating among school-aged youths and provides nutrition education guidelines for a comprehensive school health program. The guidelines include recommendations on seven aspects of a school based program to promote healthy eating. (SM)

Presents 10 major issues parents need to address effectively in order to advocate for their children's education (safety, discipline, practices and policies, grading, labels, bias, curriculum and schedules, standardized tests, homework, and subject anxiety). The article suggests appropriate questions to ask the schools. (SM)

The ways in which legal change affect institutions of higher education are examined, focusing on three specific legal issues: the residency status of a foreign student; faculty rights to inventions and discoveries; and racial harassment on campus. An implementation process model is recommended to measure the effects of policy implementation. (MSE)

A survey examined college and later-life experiences of over 35,000 students who entered 28 selective colleges in fall 1976 and fall 1989. Although half the 3,000 black students surveyed would have been rejected under race-neutral admissions criteria, they did exceedingly well after college. Almost 80% of white graduates favored retaining or…

Describes findings from the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2000 about state- and district-level requirements and policies, standards and guidelines, evaluation, collaboration, and staffing and professional preparation; also addressing school-level requirements and policies, standards and guidelines, student assessment, collaboration,…

This paper examines Australian students' knowledge of Asia, and reports on a national survey of Year 5 and 8 students. Knowledge was measured by using a combined set of subtests tailored to each state and territory curriculum and reported in terms of a standards referenced framework. The survey collected data from more than 7000 students in over…

The authors examine the developmental process by which a reclaiming environment was created in an alternative program for students designated emotionally disturbed. Efforts to identify the impetus for change, specific actions, and the ongoing evolution of the program's philosophy are discussed. The current environment is examined in the following…

The federal requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) have placed a new focus on increasing graduation rates and reducing dropout rates. While the dropout problem has generated research and new programs over the last 30 years, the dropout rate has remained relatively unchanged. Students drop out of school for many reasons, and the…

This report analyzes how charter schools handle the education of students with disabilities, with a focus on charter schools in Colorado. It first defines charter schools and notes ambiguities in the legal responsibilities of charter schools and/or their host school districts regarding students with disabilities. The Colorado information is based…

This book presents 18 papers on issues in sexual harassment within the higher education setting. It notes that only within the past two decades have sexual harassment and related subjects begun to be openly discussed, investigated, and become the formal concern of government, business, and education. Papers include: (1) "Issues and Questions"…

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are provided for under three federal statutes: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. State education agencies have ultimate responsibility for providing a free…

This book presents a study of high school mathematics and science in six states, 12 districts, and 18 schools. The study is an effort to document state, district, and school policy and practices and the enacted curriculum as provided by teachers and experienced by students. The data consist of daily records of instructional practices for 62…