Principals' wheelbarrows are full of initiatives: closing learning gaps, preparing for the Common Core State Standards, differentiating instruction, and improving college and career readiness, to name a few. Meanwhile, principals have too few assets in their toolboxes to meet all the hefty demands. Taking the long view, it becomes clear that true…

This Report describes a performance contracting program in Norfolk, Virginia; presents its results; and draws some inferences about the utility of performance contracting as a means for improving education. Participants were students from grades 7-9 in one junior high school and from grades 4-6 in one elementary school; both schools were in the…

The Gilroy, California, Unified School District contracted with Westinghouse Learning Corporation for the 1970-71 school year for the purpose of improving reading and mathematics achievement of approximately 100 Spanish-surnamed boys and girls from grades 2-4. The average gain at the end of the program was 0.6 achievement years in reading and 0.8…