This report describes briefly performance contracts; discusses their shortcomings, pitfalls, and advantages; and gives some insight into the future development of this new concept. Two shortcomings of performance contracting include (1) teaching to the test and (2) board abdication of its responsibility for making final decisions about educational…

This booklet contains five papers which examine the activities, successes, and pitfalls encountered by educators who are introducing accountability techniques into instructional programs where they did not exist in the past. The papers are based on actual programs and offer possible solutions in the areas considered, which are 1) performance…

A description of Educational Development Laboratory's approach to performance contracts. (JF)

Discusses the possible limits on the legal authority of a school to contract with private enterprise for instructional services. The proper procedure for entering into such a contract is discussed. (JF)

Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) aides were paid on the basis of proportion of tasks completed on a simple checklist of job performance rather than on simply being physically present. This procedure was found to be effective for increasing the level of work performance. (EH)

"Teaching the test" has been defined in terms of teaching those particular content knowledges or skills needed to answer the test items correctly. Evidence of several sorts examined in this paper clearly indicates that New Century was teaching students in Providence, R.I., the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test, which was used to assess their…

Article presents an approach to establishing an equitable reimbursement schedule that captures both the essence and the purposes of performance contracting. (Authors)

There are many institutions that utilize the learning contract as a framework within which learning is described. At Empire State College, the learning contract is a term used to imply a solid commitment to a plan of study developed by a student and a faculty member after whatever deliberation both deem necessary. The learning contract specifies…

Performance contracts, in which an outside organization undertakes to provide instruction in a local educational agency's jurisdiction, are discussed in this report. Characteristics of the outside educational organization are described. Payment schedules are outlined in detail, as are the problems of accurately measuring gains. Arguments for and…

A discussion of student contracting, a plan whereby a teacher and a student or a group of students make an agreement that a certain amount of work is to be completed in a certain amount of time. (Author/HB)

Article discusses the results of the evaluation of performance contracts utilized during the 1970-71 school year in the Dallas Independent School District. (HB)