Instructional supervision, despite the lack of evidence for its value, can potentially help improve instruction and promote educators' professional growth. To realize this potential, schools should analyze their supervisory practice according to these four premises: (1) that each school district and each school has unique organizational…

Task force actions and data created from its experience are summarized in this report of the Task Force on Collection Development Policies and Assessments, whose major objectives were to create (1) models of collection development policies and collection assessments that could guide subject specialist/liaisons planning to build the library…

Improvement of teaching performance can be accomplished within the teacher evaluation process if the approach is positive and nonthreatening, with considerable emphasis on peer- and self-evaluation. (Author/SJL)

This document is a stand-alone training package for staff development providers in rural small schools. Based on research and best-practice information, the school improvement model used promotes cooperation, content transferability, and adaptations for long-term program maintenance. The underlying assumptions of the model are that when school…

The changes necessary for creating a quality school can best be made in a positive organizational climate because any real change requires the active involvement of people in the organization, who will not participate unless they are highly satisfied with their work environment. Such an open, facilitating, nurturing environment can only be…

Business process redesign (BPR) is a multifunctional, interdisciplinary, and strategic business improvement methodology designed to improve service, costs, and quality. This book provides a conceptual framework for institutions of higher education to shape such an improvement effort including examples of BPR activities and tools. Chapter 1…

A model is presented which helps principals plan and evaluate instructional improvement. Described in relation to educational reform in Tennessee, the model assigns to principals the responsibility to implement the instructional changes required by a career ladder program. Research shows that continuing education, communication, and climate (the…

This book describes the steps and tools of Total Quality Management (TQM) and their use in the academic units of colleges and universities for Total Quality Improvement (TQI), illustrated by a case study from the School of Arts & Sciences at a state university. Section 1 explains how to: (1) identify problems contributing to non-value-added…

This manual provides step-by-step directions for developing an inservice staff training program in a rehabilitation facility. The manual is organized in five chapters. Following an introduction that defines inservice training, the first chapter discusses inservice problem identification procedures (conduct a needs assessment and determine present…

Alternative models of rural school improvement consortia were identified through a review of research literature in order to determine what existing models were applicable to rural school consortia in the northwest United States. Organization structure of rural school collaboratives and characteristics associated with successful functioning were…

This handbook is designed to assist schools in carrying out the following goals of the Fair Play program: to strengthen and expand students' female or male self-concepts, to increase their decision-making skills, and to increase their academic achievement by changing their stereotypic attitude toward particular content areas. The Fair Play program…

Programs that have enhanced the teaching profession are described, as part of a competition sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (Showcase for Excellence Project). Member institutions of the association developed program models in seven categories requiring initiatives and innovation in the teaching profession.…

Intended for students, practitioners, policymakers, and academicians in personnel and industrial relations, this book presents findings of a 5-year study of joint union-management programs to improve productivity. Chapter 1 underscores the growth and importance of union-management cooperation and discusses union and management attitudes toward…

This book is a guide for teachers, counselors, administrators, and other helping professionals. The focus of the book is to provide an innovative approach to education that develops students' spirit, purpose, and potential. The author shows educators how to: create inviting schools that foster maximum student success; turn classrooms into life…

A proposal for developing models to enhance the teaching profession is described, along with the 1983-1984 activities of the Task Force on Excellence in Education of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The Task Force proposed that during the 1984-1985 academic year AASCU should conduct a competition among its…