Summarizes 16 state court decisions in 15 states concerning equity in statewide school finance systems, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez" decision. Finds that some state legislatures and courts reformed their finance systems, while others let inequalities continue. (RW)

An end to the controversy over tax exemption for private schools is not likely soon. (Author)

Cites the benefits and dismisses several criticisms of school reform litigation, noting that recourse to the courts can be necessary but urging the development of alternative methods for encouraging action on needed reforms. (PGD)

Describes a study of the awareness of 299 elementary and secondary teachers and administrators from the Chicago (Illinois) area concerning U.S. Supreme Court decisions affecting the civil liberties and rights of students and teachers. The findings indicated that mechanisms for communicating Court decisions to the schools were ineffective and…

Outlines the facts and judicial history of Board of Education v. McCluskey, a case involving disagreement between a lower court's interpretation of school rules and the school board's interpretation. Discusses the Supreme Court's split decision reversing the lower court ruling and that split's implications for future educational law cases. (PGD)

Reviews a federal court ruling in Florida stating that minimum competency tests must be fair--that is, they must cover material that has actually been taught. Unfair tests used to determine eligibility for graduation violate the equal protection and due process clauses of the Constitution. (Author/WD)

The attorney for the plaintiffs in Debra P. v. Turlington discusses the harmful effects and the arbitrary and unfair nature of minimum competency testing. (Author/WD)

Reviews the split decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1981 that upheld the authority of the Minnesota State Fair to restrict the fairground solicitation activities of the Krishna religious sect. Discusses the relevance of the case to schools and colleges that constantly face problems concerning First Amendment rights. (Author/WD)

In court cases involving the discipline of handicapped students, the question of whether or not the disruptive behavior is a manifestation of the handicap inevitably arises. This article discusses rulings in such cases that should guide educators' efforts to discipline students enrolled in special education programs. (Author/WD)

Reviews pertinent court cases in a discussion of how much freedom teachers have to decide how they will teach their students. Includes cases in which teacher authority was upheld and others in which it was denied. (Author/WD)

Reviews previous educational malpractice suits and describes a recent decision in Maryland in which the plaintiff's allegations of malpractice were rejected. (WD)

Examines state laws and the actions of various courts on home instruction and unauthorized educational programs. Suggests reforming the regulation of private education through legislative action that requires periodic testing as an alternative to compulsory school attendance. (Author/MLF)

Proposes a public-service tax credit that would allow copyright owners of any television program broadcast on the public airwaves to claim a limited tax credit in exchange for school rights to copy programs and retain them indefinitely for face-to-face, nonprofit, instructional purposes. (Author/MLF)

The Supreme Court recently decided that Title IX covers employment practices in schools and colleges; however, portions of the Court's decision (whether Title IX provides "institutionwide" or "program-specific" coverage) raise serious questions about the future of Title IX as a force for sex equity in education. (Author/MLF)

In June of 1982 a Supreme Court decision held that Public Law 94-142 requires only that handicapped students be provided access to specialized instruction and related services designed to provide educational benefit. (Author/JM)