A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 129

Educational Improvement Partnerships--National Programs Law-Related Education

(CFDA No. 84.123)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: Section 1565 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 2965) (expired September 30, 1999).

Purpose: To enable children, youth, and adults to become more informed citizens by providing them with knowledge and skills pertaining to the law, the legal process, the legal system, and the fundamental principles and values on which these are based.

Funding History

Fiscal Year Appropriation Fiscal Year Appropriation
1980 $1,000,000 1988 3,830,000
1981 1,000,000 1989 3,952,000
1982 960,000 1990 4,938,000
1983 1,000,000 1991 5,855,000
1984 1,000,000 1992 6,000,000
1985 2,000,000 1993 5,952,000
1986 1,914,000 1994 5,952,000
1987 3,000,000

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

Local, State, and national projects predominantly serve students in public and private schools from kindergarten through grade 12. The legislation also contains a priority for Statewide projects.

Services

The Law-Related Education program is directly designed to help prepare students for responsible citizenship through challenging courses that stimulate the ability to reason, solve problems, and apply knowledge. Many projects promote personal responsibility and involve students in community service. Law-related education covers a wide range of subjects such as the Bill of Rights and other areas of constitutional law; the role and limits of law in a democratic society; the Federal, State, and local lawmaking process; the role of law in avoiding and resolving conflicts; the administration of the criminal, civil, and juvenile justice systems; and issues of authority, freedom, enforcement, and punishment.

For the 1993 school year, 37 law-related education projects were funded in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The FY 1993 grants ranged in size from $29,300 to $487,548 and were made to State and local education agencies, and public and nonprofit organizations. Four projects were nationwide, while 20 were local, and 14 statewide in scope.

Outcomes

The program is listed in Educational Programs that Work: The Catalogue of the National Diffusion Network (NDN), 18th edition, 1992. The most recent research study on the impact of law-related education was completed in 1984.

III. Sources of Information

  1. Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

An evaluation of law-related education began in the fall of 1994.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:
Janice Williams-Madison, (202) 401-1059

Program Studies:
Joanne Wiggins, (202) 401-1958

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