Just a few years ago, tenure appeared low on the reform list for state policy makers and district administrators, viewed as too hot an issue politically to challenge. But it was front and center in the 2014 landmark "Vergara v. California" lawsuit, which challenged teacher tenure and related policies. Yet whether to grant tenure or not…

Debates over the efficacy of tenure are longstanding but tenure reform is now more prominent in the public eye given recent high-profile legislative battles in states like Ohio and Wisconsin. This focus on tenure also is a natural outgrowth of the large body of research showing that differences between individual teachers can have profound effects…

Restrictions on collective bargaining are spreading. But while reformers are right to question current labor practices in education, they're wrong to believe that bargaining prohibitions will solve the problems. A smarter approach would begin by putting down the sledgehammer wielded in Wisconsin and picking up a scalpel by pushing for laws aimed…

Education reform is not a new or foreign trend in Wisconsin. The state was a school choice pioneer and one of the first to embrace charter schools in the early 1990s. Though major reform efforts have been on the back burner in recent years, topics like value-added analysis and teacher evaluation have kept education on the front page in the Badger…

A year ago at ASBO International's Annual Meeting and Expo in Seattle, Washington, school business officials from four states presented a powerful double-session panel on the status of changes in teacher contracts and educational funding in their regions of the country. The presenters have since updated their comments with new information and…

Gov. Scott Walker's sweeping proposal to scale back collective bargaining rights for most public employees in Wisconsin has sparked a rancorous standoff with teachers across the state--and fueled speculation about whether similar plans will gain traction in other parts of the country. But as massive demonstrations played out in Madison--an…

This article explores differential hiring and retention practices across schools of choice using data gathered as part of a comprehensive evaluation of a large-scale school voucher program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A variety of interview, survey, and observation instruments are used to describe the challenges and strategies that 13 schools report…

Researchers have theorized that online degrees are less valuable in the perception of hiring managers. Identifying the factors which influence the hiring managers' perceptions and if obtaining a degree from a for-profit institution influences that perception is critical in designing programs and courses. The purpose of this study was to identify…

Building a stronger teacher workforce requires the thoughtful orchestration of multiple processes working together in a human capital system. This white paper presents a framework that can be used to take stock of current efforts to enhance the teacher workforce in school districts or educational organizations, as well as their underlying theories…

In the era of No Child Left Behind, principals are increasingly held accountable for student performance. But are teacher labor agreements giving them enough flexibility to manage effectively? This study answers this question and others. It examines how much flexibility school leaders enjoy on key dimensions of management in America's fifty…

Wisconsin state employees over age 55 were asked about conditions under which they would delay retirement. A slight majority would do so if they could work part time; a large portion would delay retirement by continuing to work full time. (SK)

The reasoning of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in In re Petition of Kruzel is examined in which the court held that a woman's name does not automatically change to that of her husband's upon marriage. The impact of this ruling is discussed, including the constitutional implications of administrative regulations concerning a woman using her husband's…

BY THE END OF 1966, OVER 1500 WRITTEN AGREEMENTS HAD BEEN REACHED IN THE UNITED STATES PROVIDING FOR DECISION-MAKING BY TEACHERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION. PRIMARY ISSUES INCLUDED THE IMPORTANCE OF STATE LEGISLATION, THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, THE EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION RIGHTS BY ONE PROFESSIONAL…

A survey of the Janesville Public Library was undertaken to (1) facilitate the reorganization made possible by a new building and (2) prepare for possible expansion to county library service. A three-member team surveyed the library's administration, organization and services, studying library records and annual reports and using accepted library…

An investigation has been made of the cause, extent, and administrative effect of the use of non-faculty athletic coaches--individuals not employed as professional staff members in the districts in which they coach--in small (fewer than 360 students) public high schools in Wisconsin during the 1983-1984 school year. The hiring of these people may…