Although principals are essential to their schools' effectiveness, they often receive only perfunctory evaluation. Themes from current literature on principal evaluation are highlighted in this digest; they include the reasons for principal evaluation, initial steps in designing evaluation systems, methods and sources of evaluation, and models of…

This collection of essays provides an overview of personnel policies and practices in two-year colleges. The volume includes: (1) "The Personnel Function in Two-Year Colleges," by Priscilla Haag-Mutter and C. Wayne Jones, which considers historical antecedents, human resource development, future trends, and the role of planning; (2) "Organization…

This document describes the development of an instrument designed to assess the implementation of a professional learning community among school staff. It describes the growing need for such instruments as schools increasingly deviate from traditional approaches in education in their efforts to enhance student learning. An instrument that could be…

In France, career paths are negotiated not just on the industry level but also within companies. Since the passage in 1982 of the Auroux Laws, which require companies to undertake annual negotiations regarding real wages, real working hours, and the organization of work time, there has been a trend toward creation of individualized career paths.…

Among the principal's most powerful tools for school improvement and effectiveness are program and personnel evaluation. Professional specialists, however, are especially difficult to evaluate. This document presents the Professional Support Personnel (PSP) Evaluation Model for evaluating nonteaching, nonadministrative professionals. These…

Suggestions for providing more effective performance appraisals for school media specialists address questions of what performance items and evidence are appropriate for evaluating media specialists in schools of different levels and sizes, and what procedures will successfully involve media specialists, principals, and district level personnel.…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit reports results of a survey of ARL (Association of Research Libraries) that examined post-tenure review of librarians throughout higher education in North America. The purpose of the survey was to identify which institutions apply post-tenure or post-continuing appointment review to library…

This newsletter issue outlines the growth of the supported employment movement for individuals with mental retardation. Two research studies are described, dealing with employers' experiences with supported employment. The first study examined the initial and most recent or terminal evaluation forms of 125 workers with mental retardation. The…

Six topics relative to staff development are discussed. The first chapter discusses staff and organization development in a 1981 perspective. Both staff and organization development are necessary for planned change and school improvement. Both are important processes in personal and professional growth. The second chapter views staff development…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit presents the results of a survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries designed to investigate the status of core competencies (i.e., the skills, knowledge, abilities, and attributes that employees across an organization are expected to have to contribute successfully…

"Work Keys" is a comprehensive program for assessing and teaching workplace skills. This serial "special issue" features 18 first-hand reports on Work Keys projects in action in states across North America. They show how the Work Keys is helping businesses and educators solve the challenge of building a world-class work force.…

The extent to which staff appraisal has been implemented at Britain's public sector further education (FE) institutions and the characteristics, benefits, and disadvantages of existing appraisal systems were examined in a survey of 233 FE institutions (36% of all institutions in the public FE sector). Of the FE institutions surveyed, 76% had one…

This Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit reports results of a survey of 64 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions conducted in the fall of 1990 to gather information on the performance appraisal of collection development librarians. Data are reported on the frequency of the performance review cycle, reporting…

The process of performance evaluation of teachers and other school personnel should be conducted with their full knowledge and involvement. Due process procedures require that a teacher be fully informed of any negative appraisals by a superior, have an opportunity to discuss the problems, and receive guidance toward solutions. The following steps…

The selection of a highly qualified staff is important to the development of an excellent school. In this article, school administrators are advised in the area of personnel selection about preparations for interviewing, conducting an interview, relevant questioning, and the art of effective listening. A major contribution is a review of what…