326 MISC. PUBLICATION 218, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
terms and standards of plant and equipment, compulsory attendance laws, con- 
trol over the selection of teachers, regulation of the course of study, and State 
selection of textbooks. These and other requirements are often made conditions 
of receiving State school grants; or specific grants are made for meeting particular 
requirements. * * * Some 18 States give 2 general grant of power to make 
rules and regulations for the conduct of school affairs Tw enty States authorize 
appeals from local school authorities to the State department. In New York, 
where the decisions of the commissioner of education in such cases are final, they 
form an important body of administrative school law, supplementing the statutes. 
About a dozen States authorize the State departments to prescribe examinations 
in elementary schools, and five States authorize State examinations in high schools. 
A dozen States require the approval by the State departments of plans for the 
construction of school buildings. Ten States make special provision for the 
examination of the financial accounts of local school authorities; and about the 
same number authorize the requirement of certain forms of accounts. 
HIGHWAYS 
Most of the States have established systems of State highways 
under the complete jurisdiction of the State government (119, pp. 
367-868). In addition to taking over completely the primary roads, 
the States are exercising an increased degree of supervision over the 
construction and maintenance of local roads. This is done through 
State highway commissions, State departments of public works, 
State highway engineers, or other similar agencies. Several States 
offer the advice and assistance of the State agencies to the local high- 
way authorities. This is the case in Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, and 
Illinois. In Oregon, West Virginia, and Texas it is the duty of the 
State agencies to furnish such aid. 
The department of public works in Massachusetts is authorized to 
compile statistics relative to the public ways of counties, cities, and 
towns, and to make such investigations relative thereto as it considers 
expedient. It is further provided that the division may be consulted 
by, and shall, without charge, advise officers of counties, cities, or 
towns having the care of and authority over public ways, as to their 
construction, maintenance, alteration, or repair.” 
In several States, including Massachusetts, Michigan, West Vir- 
ginia, and Arkansas, the State highway authorities hold institutes for 
the instruction of local road officials. 
A more rigid type of control over local road administration is 
obtained through the power of selecting and removing local officials. 
In [Illinois the county board, in selecting a road superintendent, must 
submit to the State department a list of from 3 to 5 persons who are 
- considered desirable candidates. The department then determines by 
competitive examination the person or persons best fitted for the office 
and makes its report. The county board must appoint from the list 
of eligibles. If no one on the list is found eligible by the State depart- 
ment, a further list must be submitted.” 
The county court in West Virginia may appoint as county road 
engineer only a person who holds a certificate of efficiency from the 
State road commission, and in Kansas the appointments of county 
engineers by the county boards are subject to the approval of the 
State highway commission. In the latter State and in fowa, county 
engineers may also be removed by the State commission for incom- 
petency. In Pennsylvania the State commissioner is authorized to 
* Massachusetts, General Laws, 1921, amended, 1928, ch. 81. 
85 Cahill’s Llinois Revised Statutes, ch. 121, sec. 8. 
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