Outlines the history of private education and the development of secular education in American public schools. Changes in growth in the private school sector seem to occur in response to public school treatment of religious values. (MD)

A recent Supreme Court decision on a First Amendment case involving a teacher in Texas illustrates how teachers' and other public employees' rights to freedom of speech face serious erosion. The problem is deciding whether grievances fall into the protected area of "public concern" or the unprotected area of a "purely private…

Self-interested political, corporate, and education leaders have undermined recent West Virginia court decisions mandating educational reform. Three implications are: (1) principals, teachers, parents, and students must be equal partners in the educaiton reform process; (2) a constituency for rural children is needed; and (3) rural educators must…

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)

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a Texas school superintendent, having failed to submit a written contract to the school board for execution, had no basis for holding that a property interest in employment existed. Certainty about binding obligations requires written agreements signed by both parties. (PB)

Traces the nine-year history of Geraldine Cannon's ongoing legal battle, based on accusations of age and sex discrimination, to gain admission to medical school in the state of Illinois. (JBM)

Discusses a 1984 United States Supreme Court ruling against 20 faculty members not belonging to the Minnesota Community College Faculty Association (MCCFA) who alleged that their right to meet and confer with their employers over employment terms and conditions was violated by MCCFA representation excluding nonunion members. (JBM)

Examines the background and the action and potential effects of the Supreme Court's June 1984 decision that prohibits the National Collegiate Athletic Association from controlling college football television rights. (MCG)

The United States Supreme Court requires school districts to provide catheterization services for handicapped students, in accordance with Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. (DCS)

Reviews the status of Supreme Court deliberations in questions surrounding a New Jersey school's search of a student's purse. The state courts found the search unreasonable and reversed a lower court decision. (MD)

Decisions in recent court cases seem to show that comparable worth will not provide a remedy for allegedly sex-biased salary inequities. (MD)

Educators are reluctant to report child abuse and neglect because they are not sure how abuse and neglect are defined, they are inadequately informed about the reporting process, and they fear prosecution. Most states make failure to report illegal, and courts tend to support educators making reports in good faith. (PGD)

Peter D. Roos comments in an interview on developments in the area of student rights in the 10 years since he successfully represented the plaintiff in "Goss vs. Lopez." (PGD)

Photocopying guidelines of the 1976 amendments to the Copyright Act have been further legitimized by a 1982 settlement involving New York University. Important recent developments concerning videotape copyrights include the 1981 guidelines of the House Judiciary Committee and the 1984 United States Supreme Court case, "Sony Corporation v.…

Examining the history of a "promotion by achievement" program begun in 1973-74 in Greensville County, Virginia, the authors argue that the effects of the program were not racially discriminatory as alleged by a 1980 suit that led to the program's termination in 1981. (JBM)