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June 2003
State of Religion in Public Schools by Martha McCarthy
The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, signed into law in 2002, is the most comprehensive reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Among its many provisions, the NCLB Act requires school districts to certify to the state education agency that no school policy prevents participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools. The law also requires the U.S. Secretary of Education to issue guidance to school districts regarding permissible religious activities. For the first time, federal funds can be withheld from school districts that are not in compliance with the certification requirement. (more)

August 2001
Briefly Noted
Bully Policy: Michigan Debates Legislation, Disabled Students Must Pass Indiana Exam, NY Professor Receives Supreme Court Book Prize (more)
July 2001
Cracks in Wall Between Church & State by Martha McCarthy, Ph.D.
On June 11, 2001 the Supreme Court delivered a significant decision, Good News Club v. Milford Central School, allowing a private Christian organization to hold its meetings in this New York school district. (more)

Act to ‘Leave No Child Behind’ (more)

June 2001
Court Rules against Curriculum Censorship
A three-judge panel of the second U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the efforts of three Catholic families to censor the curriculum in the Bedford Central School District in Westchester County. In the mid-nineties, the families sued the district alleging their religious rights were violated by, among others, the DARE drug education program. (more)

Funding for Girls in Non-Traditional Subjects: The Go Girl Act
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
introduced a bill last month authorizing $50 million in grants during fiscal year 2002 to encourage girls, grades 4 through 8, to succeed in math, science, engineering and technology courses, and pursue jobs in these fields. (more)

May 2001
Anti-Harassment Policies in Public Schools: Are They Vulnerable? by Martha McCarthy, Ph.D.
In February 2001, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals rendered a surprising ruling, Saxe v. State College Area School District, striking down a Pennsylvania school district’s anti-harassment policy and thereby overturning the lower court’s decision. (more)

 
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