Sets forth and considers educational beliefs explicitly stated by the justices of the Supreme Court in major court opinions rendered in the 1980s. The justices' educational viewpoints, in general, have turned to an emphasis on control, discipline, order, authority, and the inculcation of traditional values. (60 references) (MLF)

Examines two related issues: the right of teachers to select instructional materials and to select instructional methods. Court decisions indicate that materials and methods must have educational value, relevance, and suitability to the age and maturity of the students. Prior administrative approval, while not necessarily required, is beneficial.…

California Assembly Bill 65 (AB 65) attempts to equalize California school finance and improve school programs. The school finance portion of the bill arose as a response to the 1976 Serrano v. Priest decision in which the California Supreme Court said that the existing school finance system was unfair to both students and taxpayers. AB 65…

Supreme Court decisions made during the previous and present terms as well as some that will be rendered next term are discussed. Among the cases, the following are of particular relevance to school board members. In "Memphis Community Schools v. Stachura" the Court declared that damages based on the "value" of constitutional…

Sound technology policies can spell the difference between an effective website and an online nightmare. An effective web development policy addresses six key areas: roles and responsibilities, content/educational value, privacy and safety, adherence to copyright laws, technical standards, and use of commercial sites and services. (MLH)

Attempts by courts in the United States and Canada to define the rights of children, parents, and educators are described, and their shortcomings and contradictions are pointed out. The author suggests another approach based on utilitarian values and pre-suppositions presented in works by John Stuart Mill. (PP)

Maryland has passed legislation requiring school districts to structure their purchasing procedures to attempt to reach a goal of purchasing at least 10 percent of the dollar value of goods and/or services from minority enterprises when funds are provided through the Public School Construction Program (PSCP). (Author/MLF)

The "Hazelwood" decision has moved the argument about student rights of freedom of expression from the courthouse to the statehouse. A growing list of states have considered legislation to restore students' rights, and a number of local school boards are also reaffirming the value of a free student press. (MLF)

In remote Navajo Mountain, Dine children have no formal educational opportunities after eighth grade. A U.S. District Court judge's late-1970s ruling that spread responsibility among the U.S. Government, the Navajo Nation, Utah, and the local school district has proved unworkable. Any negotiated settlement must begin with identification of shared…

Teaching ethical values is often challenged as an infringement on students' religious rights. This article addresses key questions concerning schools' legal responsibilities, courts' treatment of curriculum-related challenges based on alleged First Amendment violations, and courts' handling of teacher proselytizing or "opting out" cases.…

While recognizing high-stakes testing's value, both the "GI Forum" decision and the Office of Civil Rights guide raise questions that boards and educators should ask about the administration and consequences of their own testing programs. Methods for systematically collecting, analyzing, disseminating, and acting on test results are needed. (MLH)

The Subcommittee conducted an oversight hearing on Section 529 College Savings Plans, State-sponsored investments that are designed to encourage families to save money for their children's college education. Section 529 refers to the Internal Revenue Code section that authorizes and confers special tax treatment on these entities. Section 529…

The demise of "Cook v. Hudson" stems from its failure to accord proper value to public school employees' constitutional right to select private schooling for children. Unjustified school board attempts to terminate the employment of staff enrolling their children in private schools will not survive the "Pickering"…

Nevada's academic standards for geography explain that geography is a field of study that enables people to find answers to questions about the world around them, where things are, and how and why they got there. The aim of Nevada's geography standards is for students to graduate from Nevada schools with an understanding of the people, places, and…

Recognizing that the cultural and historical contributions of Native Americans should be part of the basic education of all citizens in the state, the 1974 Montana legislature directed that an Indian Culture Master Plan be devised to enrich the background of all public school teachers. The plan was to provide means by which all public school…