The author examines performance contracting, the planning programming and budgeting system (PPBS), testing, and the voucher system to show that accountability (when equated to expenditures and statistical data) is inappropriate when applied to education. (MJB)

Visits in the Spring of 1972 to five school districts (Norfolk, Virginia; Texarkana, Arkansas; Gary, Indiana; Gilroy, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan) that had implemented educational performance contracting programs during the 1970-71 school year are reported. Changes in the content and methods of instruction, measurement and evaluation,…

Conclusions reached after three years of performance contracting experience and materials with which to judge the validity of the conclusions are presented in this overview of performance contracting. The conclusions are: (1) commercial firms are no better at teaching children than are public schools; (2) commercial firms expend as much or more…

Aspects of design and procedures used in the evaluation of a performance contract are discussed, and the project and findings are briefly summarized. The Virginia performance contract in reading was carried out in seven school districts. Evaluation of the project showed that although instructional changes that utilized desirable individualized…

The essence of interpersonal communication in negotiation is the achievement of consensus. This paper discusses the many variables which affect negotiation situations, in small groups or in large institutions like the university. Specifically, will proper orientation in the bargaining process increase the chances of reaching consensus? What…

A discussion of performance contracting, defined as an agreement between a group offering instruction and a school needing the services, is presented. Four major hazards to direct measurement of specific learning are considered: poor statement of objectives; selection of the wrong tests; misinterpretation of test scores; and depersonalization of…

The first part of this report highlights what is required in the legislative language of statutes enacted by various States by identifying their specific characteristics in a series of tables. Discussion of these characteristics and comparisons and comments on omissions and trends are presented in the text. The second part of the report consists…

This paper illustrates how changing emphases and trends in education have led to a reformulation of notions of assessment and an awareness of the limitations of current measurement technology to deal with newer conceptualizations. Discussed are: 1) the antecedents of learning and the transactions which take place during the learning process, as…

This looseleaf publication updates an earlier report. Some of the pages contain new laws enacted since the first report was completed. The report provides tables showing the status of accountability legislation as of the fall of 1972 and texts of the actual bills or laws in a State-by-State format. The facets of accountability that the laws cover…

Rockland Community College's (RCC) Developmental Studies Department serves students in need of remedial/developmental education, and more than 40% of RCC's entering freshmen are enrolled in the department yearly. The federally funded Special Services Project provides supplemental tutorial services for the most severely financially and…

The activities and outcomes of Rockland Community College's Special Services Project (SSP) are described in this report. First, introductory material explains that the SSP was designed to serve those students who entered the college with the most severe educational and economic needs through efforts including the College Skills Program and the…

Rockland Community College's Special Services Project (SSP) provides supplemental instructional and counseling services for educationally and economically disadvantaged students in the College Skills Program, remedial/developmental program, and the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. This report focuses on the first year (1980-81) of the…

Rockland Community College's Special Services Project (SSP) provides supplemental instruction and counseling services to educationally and economically disadvantaged students through its College Skills Program, remedial/developmental program, and English as a Second Language (ESL) program. This report focuses on the second year (1981-82) of the…

This report provides information on the third year (1982-83) of the second cycle (1980-1984) of Rockland Community College's Special Services Project (SSP), a program which provides supplemental instructional and counseling services for educationally and economically disadvantaged students through its College Skills Program, remedial/developmental…