Offers suggestions for developing and using meaningful institutional effectiveness plans in higher education based on the experiences of nearly 30 different institutions. (EV)

Explores both putative and potential relationships between school funding and educational outcomes, for which numerous indices and variables have been examined during the past two decades. Concludes that despite large increases in real dollars, there is no readily discernable link between inputs and outputs, although when statistical control is…

Based on the Gaussian model, methods for using measurements that depend on the true attribute to compute rankings are proposed and compared. Measurements based on an empirical Bayes model produce estimates that differ from ranking observed data. Ranking methods are illustrated with school achievement data. (TJH)

A systematic approach to the selection, training, and support of principals is essential to school improvement. Graduate level preparation alone is insufficient. The Brevard County (Florida) Human Resource Management and Development plan matches school needs to candidates' strengths when selecting new principals. (MLH)

Discusses Joan Lipsitz's 1984 treatise on ideal middle level school characteristics. Many middle schools' creative approaches to programing and instruction (through interdisciplinary team teaching, interest-based activities, thematic schoolwide events, creative problem solving, and hands-on experience) and responsiveness to young adolescents'…

Examines Maine elementary schools' efficiency in maximizing student achievement, given certain student and community characteristics. Reports results of a simple educational production analysis focusing on the relationship of school expenditures and student performance. Identifies production inefficiencies. Efforts to identify patterns in…

School effectiveness characteristics provide initial clues for institutionalizing educational improvement, but successful implementation depends on systematic attention to the maintenance function--the type that provides systematic support, reinforced involvement, and a game plan. Improvement strategies may be enhanced by considering four key…

Because the physical environment of the classroom can stimulate students and help them remain productive and happy, it is important for teachers to utilize all physical aspects of the room, such as the walls, ceilings, and floor space, to encourage community, inquiry, and productivity. (MDM)

The Academic Performance Index is the centerpiece of California's Public School Accountability System and the new measuring stick for state schools. Principals can use the API as a diagnostic tool to provide information specific to their schools and highly relative to economically and socially similar schools. (MLH)

A study of the relationship between housing values and school performance found large effects of elementary school output on housing values. Results suggest that housing values in the central city are elastic with respect to improvements in elementary school outputs. (Contains 14 references.) (Author/JOW)

Teachers must play a significant role in reforming the schools and developing curriculum. A developmental process for establishing an effective learning community starts with collaboration, vision, ongoing development, and an ethos that supports the mission. (JOW)

Shows that commonly used "value-added" models are misspecified when estimated using the National Education Longitudinal Study, a finding that raises questions about whether previous value-added studied are unbiased. Also reviews more recent literature using instrumental variables methods to address omitted variables bias. (SLD)

The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act requires that schools make ''annual yearly progress'' in raising student achievement, or face possible sanctions. The No Child Left Behind Act places added emphasis on test scores, such as scores from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), to evaluate the performance of schools. In this paper, we investigate…

The fundamental elements of leadership are not always evident in new challenges. Greg Hicks uses LeaderShock ... And How to Triumph Over It to remind leaders that the basics matter. Hicks, a business professor at San Jose State University and a trainer for Fortune 500 companies around the world, uses common sense, experience and excellent examples…

School effectiveness research (SER) has flourished since the 1980s. In recent years, however, various authors have criticised several aspects of SER. A thorough review of recent criticism can serve as a good starting point for addressing the flaws of SER, where appropriate, thereby supporting its further development. This article begins by…