Examines issues of curricular and instructional validity, criticism of diploma-sanctioned tests, teaching the test, and the role of the courts in new solutions. Contends diploma tests may ensure that students are given the opportunity to learn those skills essential to becoming a productive member of society. (209 references) (MLF)

School officials cannot censor or punish profanity and vulgarity in student publications without a showing that such action is essential for the maintenance of order and discipline or protects the rights of others or that the censored material satisfies the legal tests of obscenity. Available from Willamette University College of Law, Salem, OR…

The court decision required high-quality educational standards to be written in specific detail. The master plan identified four elements of an effective educational system: standards for high-quality programs and services; required administrative and instructional practices; equitable funding methods; and accountability. (PB)

Discusses technological developments in information distribution and management in relation to concepts of ownership. A historical overview of the concept of copyright is presented; licensing elements for databases are examined; and implications for gateway systems are explored, including ownership, identification of users, and allowable uses of…

Discusses substantive and procedural restraints, including legal pitfalls, due process, and no-layoff clauses, within which public employers must decide questions of reduction in workforce (RIF). Describes elements of a sound RIF policy and considers ways of using the collective bargaining process to facilitate the RIF process. (JBM)

The importance of the faculty contract in the faculty-college relationship is examined, and the difficulty of characterizing activities as "inside" or "outside" the institution is discussed. Specific problems of external faculty work (consulting, publishing, etc.) and key elements of current institutional policies are outlined.…

This paper examines the developing concept of educational malpractice since the mid-1970s. It discusses the aftermath of Peter Doe v. San Francisco Unified School District, a case in which the court found against the student's claim that his school had failed to provide him with an adequate education. Two approaches are now being taken to define…

This document records the oral and written testimony of witnesses at a Congressional hearing on U.S. needs for training in high technology areas. Testimony was given by local officials, corporate officials, a union representative, and two professors of engineering from universities in Indiana. Testimony centered on jobs and job training, reforming…

This paper presents the testimony concerning special education reform and inclusion programs of the Director of Education and Employment Issues before a House of Representatives subcommittee. The speaker concludes that inclusion programs can work (as in districts in California, Kentucky, New York, and Vermont) but take tremendous effort and…

This is a congressional hearing on how vocational and technical education and job training work together to better prepare workers for the 21st century workforce and on successful educational and job training activities and initiatives in Indiana (IN). Testimony includes statements from United States representatives (Howard P. "Buck"…

The role of Colorado community colleges in preparing people for a more productive role in society is discussed by a representative of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. The following problems are identified: the increasing costs of providing quality education, and financial problems within the state's rural…

Hearings were held on the Technology for Education Act of 1993 (S. 1040) to support systemic improvement of education and the development of a technologically literate citizenry and internationally competitive work force by establishing a comprehensive system through which appropriate technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative…

Although many school boards' policies on public use of school district facilities are deliberately vague and allow administrators great flexibility in their interpretation, this paper advocates well-defined regulations. It presents a sample policy, discusses legal concerns, and suggests essential provisions of facility-use policy. The policy…

After providing background on Title 5 regulations that upgraded standards of rigor for degree-applicable credit courses offered by California community colleges, this report presents revisions to course standards regulations for nondegree credit, noncredit, and grade point averaging. An analysis of the revisions is included, indicating that: (1)…

This paper explores the legal ramifications associated with teaching moral and spiritual values in the public schools. Following a history of the problem, the paper discusses four schemes currently used for teaching these values to the young: (1) withdrawing children from public schools to either enroll them in private or parochial schools, or…