This report is an attempt to classify and interpret the new pieces of state legislation influencing the teaching occupation: how teachers are trained, licensed, inducted, and compensated. The historical basis of recent teacher reforms and the concepts of teaching that these new policies embody are analyzed. Examined are trends in state teacher…

This report addresses one central issue: the nature and extent of the teacher shortage in Arizona. Its purpose is to inform policymakers and help prevent poor policy decisions and wasted resources. The report presents new research along with policy and program recommendations intended to serve as points of departure for understanding and…

This report provides an overview of the findings of 3 studies conducted between 1995 and 1998 on school-based performance award (SBPA) programs. Such programs provide teachers, and often other school staff, with pay bonuses when their school as a whole achieves specific educational objectives. The studies focused on programs in the state of…

A federal district court judge in Iowa ruled that an education service agency unreasonably denied equal employment opportunity to a handicapped applicant for a teaching position. The agency based its decision on the candidate's inability to meet physical requirements for job functions that the court held nonessential. (PGD)

This document, a companion report to a detailed investigation into school districts' teacher selection processes, presents detailed case studies conducted in six different school districts: (1) Mesa Unified School District (Arizona); (2) Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland); (3) East Williston Union Free School District (New York); (4)…

This document summarizes the findings of a report by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) designed to help policymakers gain a better understanding of both the nature of the teacher workforce and of promising recruitment and retention strategies. ECS reviewed 91 studies on teacher recruitment and retention in search of answers to eight…

Explores negligent hiring, supervision, and retention of teachers who sexually abuse students. Examines the issue of defamation and suggests school policy that will work toward eradication of sexual abuse of students by teachers. (33 references) (MLF)

Legal provisions and regulations relating to the hiring and evaluation of certified staff are reviewed by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) to assist local academic senates in developing or updating policies in these areas. After an introduction to the objectives of this report, sections of Article 2 of the California…

This document records statistics on New York State public school enrollment and staff for 1986-1987. Tables are provided for the following: (1) districts and pupils by type of district; (2) districts and pupils by size of district; (3) public school enrollment by level; (4) number of professional staff members; (5) number of paraprofessional and…

Describes problems with vocational and technical education in China. Asserts that (1) school density is too high and size is too low; (2) the establishment of specializations is irrational; (3) the ratio of students to relevant employment is low; (4) teaching materials for the specializations are inadequate; and (5) teacher training and employment…

This monograph is a revision of an earlier edition designed to help school boards handle terminations of employment while reducing the likelihood of litigation arising from terminations. The former set of five procedural codes have been updated, modified, and added to. This edition contains six model procedural codes on which school boards can…

A report is given of a 1987 survey of teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Data were obtained from 580 full-time classroom teachers in three elementary schools, two junior high schools, and one senior high school. The focus of the survey was on teacher attrition rates and turnover. Results indicated a high percentage of…

The faculty structure and salary schedule of California State University were assessed. After tracing the history of the trustees' efforts to revise the faculty structure since 1961, the report compares the university's current salary schedule to those of comparison institutions. The way the comparison colleges allocated increased 1984-1985 salary…

This brief issue paper offers an overview of the key issues involved in the pay-for-performance plan, as it applies to compensating teachers. Paying teachers on the basis of performance, as a way to improve the quality of teaching, has gained support in recent years. This paper examines the practice through five leading pay-for-performance models.…

This collection of articles gathers reprinted materials on teacher attraction and retention for small and rural school districts. The material is organized in two sections: (1) Attracting and Retaining Quality Teachers and (2) Challenging and Enriching Current Staff. Reprints from a number of publications present strategies for addressing the…