A study of 6 low-achieving and 5 high-achieving minority-isolated elementary schools in San Diego, California, identified 28 factors that appeared to make a difference in achievement levels. Thirteen were associated with time-on-task, focus, and structure, i.e. variables within the schools' control. The remainder were miscellaneous background…

The Effective-School Scale is presented for addressing student outcomes associated with an effective school or district for minorities. This measurement device is based on the expectations that differences in academic performance need not exist between minority and majority students, and that goals of student equality should be extended beyond…

Findings from indepth studies of discipline policies in three middle schools are summarized. Although all the schools were in a single urban district, significant differences were identified among them. The written policies of each school varied in the elaboration and emphasis of various themes in district policy, and the schools varied in the…

To improve secondary school organization, operation, and outcomes, a research report presents major results from 13 studies of leadership, decision-making, and change conducted by Project on the Administration and Organization for Instruction staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in cooperation with over 100 schools. National and statewide…

In the fall of 1981, a survey of the Class of 1976 was conducted to gather information about both what the students had done since completing high school and their opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their high school program. Generally, courses in all areas were rated as satisfactory or excellent, with music receiving especially…

Teacher attitudes (inputs) and classroom practices (processes) were used to predict residual student achievement scores (outputs). A combination of three approaches were used to control for student background characteristics and isolate the effects of school variables: (1) a "residual" measure of achievement; (2) an…

Local boards of education have the responsibility and authority for operating local school systems, but in a system of any size authority must be delegated. Unlike factories, schools cannot be run from the top down. The health of the schools is determined directly by and in proportion to the extent that principals and teachers have a voice in…

The 11 publications reviewed in this annotated bibliography were selected from the ERIC database as significant and useful information about aspects of the school environment--the instructional climate--that lead to school effectiveness. Among the topics discussed are teacher expectations, staff morale, student input, self-discipline, and…

In an effort to expand research on effective and ineffective schools into the area of student attitudes, this study examined the cognitive, as well as the noncognitive scores for two groups of Pennsylvania schools that had been identified as effective or ineffective. Cognitive and noncognitive data were available for all 500 school districts for…

This volume reports the results of an extensive study of state teacher policies and programs. It is based on the idea that the extraordinary level of state activity in recent years, if coupled with the interests and aspirations of teachers themselves, can be the foundation for a renewal of the teaching profession. Section 1 describes innovative…

This paper describes the organizational structures and practices discovered in several alternative educational settings in various business and government organizations claiming to use a technical control operating model. The educational organizations studied included a criminal justice training center, a color consulting school, a high technology…

Currently popular national reports calling for educational reform were reviewed and 29 were selected in which it seemed appropriate to assume that the topic of career guidance would be included. This resulted in an overload of reform proposals emphasizing the goal of education as preparation for work. In analysis of the 29 reports it was found…

This guide describes a design for building-level school improvement in the state of Wisconsin. Summarized is effective-schools research that is designed to encourage schools and districts to become familiar with and engage in the improvement process. The first section describes what a school district needs to consider when beginning the school…

Recommendations for improving the educational programs of Hartford, Connecticut are presented in this document. In November 1983 the Hartford Board of Education held a symposium in which Board members, staff, parents, union members and representatives of the business community met to review six reports on educational reform. Five task force…

The professional expectations for a superintendent are outlined and organized under three sets of skills. Technical skills, the first set described, include (1) having language skills, (2) understanding teaching and being a teacher, (3) being current on learning theory, (4) being familiar with a variety of curricula, and (5) acting as a liaison…