In 1980 the Newark (Ohio) City School District established a team management system called REASONS--an acronym for Responsive, Evaluative Accountability System Operating Newark Schools. The goals of the REASONS program comprise systematic planning and accomplishment of objectives, increased productivity, open two-way communication, and peer…

The second in a series of four papers describing a variety of methods for individualizing instruction in a graduate library media training program, this paper includes a brief description of the course and its goals, a series of 11 student teacher contracts dealing with the topics/concepts selected for inclusion in the course, and student…

In December of 1970, teachers in the Mesa Public Schools will design the procedures by which they contract with the Mesa School to produce certain student outcomes for a given unit of study in the spring. These will be specified in a "contract" written by the school board. Teams will "bid" on the contract, submitting dollar estimates of all cost…

In response both to a growing national grumbling about the need for educational accountability and to a felt need to better define and focus on district priorities, the Madison Public Schools adopted a mangement by objectives (MBO) program in 1970. It is on the basis of three years' experience with this program that this book has been written. The…

Designed to provide solutions to some of the problems related to measuring reading behavior, this publication explores some of the problems of test selection and usage which confront educators. Contents include "Reading Testing for Reading Evaluation" by Walter R. Hill, "Reading Tests and the Disadvantaged" by Thomas J. Fitzgibbon, "What Is…

Methods and forms are described that are in use for reporting student progress and performance to parents at a junior high school with varying degrees of individualized instruction in each subject area. For the 8th grade science program, in which all work is performed on individual or group contracts, the teacher records each date of completion…

The Personalized Performance-Based Teacher Education Program is divided into three nominal phases. Entry and exit levels of competency and performance are identified at each phase. An educational advisor who will work with the teacher candidate throughout the entire program is also identified at entry. In each phase, students participate in a…

This document focuses on improving the writing and execution of learning contracts at Empire State College. Emphasis is placed on student purposes and background, organization of learning contracts, continuity and incrementability, diversity and variety, unity and intensiveness, compatibility with the discipline, time requirements, bibliography…

This document describes the Rocky Mount, N.C. Youth Services Center which was established as a community-based treatment program for male juvenile offenders. Designed to work with behavior problems at their source (school, home, community), the Center utilizes community-based contingency contracting with written behavioral agreements entered into…

Various approaches to individualized learning were presented at this 1973 summer institute, attended by 426 administrators and teachers. Major topics included individualized learning, steps of the learning process, open classrooms, contracting, learning centers, management systems, goals, and resource packets. It was noted that the idea of…

This report discusses performance contracting as one means of implementing educational accountability. It describes the planning for and main features of the Dallas, Texas, performance contract -- the Guaranteed Student Performance in Education and Training Program that uses a multifaceted approach to remove math, reading, and motivation…

This discussion of the pros and cons of educational accountability and performance contracting comments on the educational and historical context of performance contracting and indicates some directions performance contracting will take. The author warns that since performance contracting is a new tool it must be used cautiously and with skill by…

This paper discusses the role of the classroom teacher under an accountability program, and raises questions about the extent to which teachers can be held accountable in different areas of school programs. The author defines issues raised at the ACT national study conference on accountability in education, and enumerates responsibilities of…

This document, part one of a report on performance contracting, explores its basic issues and considerations and is addressed to educational decisionmakers. The evolution of performance contracting is traced and the concept as it is currently being applied in education is discussed. The second part will analyze the outcomes of some programs when…

This report provides a framework for evaluating the use of performance contracts. It serves as a working guide for those who are considering or are committed to performance contracts with public or private organizations. The topics cover (1) the theoretical basis and rationale of performance contracting, (2) the procurement model and the request…