Organized in three parts, the nine brief chapters of this report aim to raise the information levels of policy makers and the public concerning several educational issues. After the first chapter's brief introductory indication of the purpose of the publication, chapter 2 provides an overview of changes that have marked the American scene since…

Separate formal evaluations were conducted of the following alternative schools in the Seattle Public Schools system: Nova, Orca, Summit K-12, Alternative School 1 (AS1), Alternative Elementary School II (AES II), and Alternative Elementary School III (AES III). These six documents, combined here as one item, describe the distinctive…

This study of school effects included unique teacher and principal variables: average faculty score on the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) Commons and area examinations, mean passing rate on the NTE of institutions the faculty attended, principal's percentile score on the NTE administration test, and principal's rating on school district…

A study was conducted to detect possible bias in the prediction of school achievement with family background variables and the effects of biased selection on the classifications of exceptional schools. Bias was examined by testing the equality of subpopulation regressions for predominately Black, Hispanic and White school subgroups. Significant…

Focusing on 67 studies written since 1970, this report reviews the literature on the topic of school effectiveness to discover those characteristics most in evidence in effective schools and classrooms. Research on effective schools has concentrated on such topics as school climate, the role of leadership, students' preschool experiences, and…

The measurement of institutional effectiveness involves a systematic comparison of organizational purpose and performance. For community colleges, organizational purpose can be defined in terms of providing access to education, realizing student achievement, promoting student development, or addressing social needs. If all four purposes are…

The evolution of California's school accountability program, its current status, and some future directions are discussed. Public recognition of the need for school improvement resulted in California's Hughes Hart Education Reform Act (SB 813) of 1983, leading to the development of the California accountability program. Program components include:…

None of the problems confronting the black community today are more critical to its future than those related to education. Blacks must demand that schools shift their focus from the supposed deficiencies of the black child to the social barriers that stand in the way of academic success. The historical interest of the black community in education…

School staff members need continuing opportunities to learn and grow because the waves of social change strike them first and most powerfully. Research on effective schools tends to stress staff development as crucial. School boards are involved in the development of their staff. A staff development program of broad scope and sharp focus can…

This report begins with a review of the literature concerning the effectiveness of Catholic high schools. It then presents new information based on an analysis of the annual nationwide "Monitoring the Future" survey of high school seniors. The survey analysis examines differences between Catholic seniors attending Catholic high schools…

This longitudinal study indicates that educational reform and economic performance are indivisible. The first part of the study examines job growth or decline by type of job between 1972 and 1985 by county and ranks the counties based on their performance during the 13-year period. The second part of the study examines the relationship between the…

This study was the third in a series of national studies of the high school principalship dating back to the early 1960s. Its major purpose was to analyze and describe high school leaders and their schools. This volume describes the characteristics and behaviors of high performing principals (type "A") and typically performing principals ("type…

This report presents results of a study of the effectiveness of the Comer Process, also known as the School Development Program (SDP) in the Milliken II Schools, Prince Georges County, Maryland. The process was introduced in the school system in summer 1985 to improve effectiveness of schools that could not be integrated because of their…

This annual report summarizes the work and progress of programs which promote effective education in 11 Southern states. Working cooperatively with other groups, this advocacy organization has developed a model for putting effective schools research into practice. The Effective Schools Model has been accepted for use by the New Orleans Public…

Designed to help school administrators and board members promote instructional excellence, this publication reports survey results involving over 35 school districts in Northern California, Utah, and Nevada engaged in instructional improvement efforts. Specifically, the report describes alternative strategies used to organize and manage three…