School effectiveness was studied in New Zealand schools, concentrating on Type A effects (given average background characteristics, how well would a student perform in any particular school?) and Type B effects (given similar student populations, are some schools more effective in achieving specified results than others?). Hierarchical linear…

This paper offers a traditional but often neglected view of schools as places of work. It argues that schools are best understood as places where people work and face problems similar to those encountered in other work organizations. Good schools are places where the quality and quantity of work are greater and the work is integrated more…

Recent national reports reinforce the growing perception that small schools are good schools. This may seem a revolution or the latest fad in schooling; however, issues of size cannot be captured in universal guidelines. This digest discusses the history of school size dilemmas to demonstrate why this is so. The earliest research literature on…

This paper contains executive summaries of the productivity-quality efforts of nine independent Illinois colleges and universities. The summaries typically include descriptions of the type of student population served, the type of campus, the institution's mission statement, and major areas in which degrees are offered. Specific initiatives to…

This paper, from the Proprietary Schools Advisory Committee, is an executive summary of reports on the productivity-quality efforts of nine Illinois proprietary institutions. For each school, productivity summaries are presented for instructional, public service, and research units as well as academic and administrative functions. Examples of…

Prepared in response to a request from the Iowa state General Assembly, this report outlines major issues facing the state's community colleges and provides recommendations for increasing effectiveness and accountability. Following introductory materials, the report describes the five major guiding principals in the development of Iowa's community…

Responding to the need for a comprehensive framework for monitoring and improving school effectiveness in local and international contexts, this paper presents the findings of a case study of one effective and one ineffective school. Data were derived from a survey of schools, document analysis, and field observations. The case schools are…

As part of the institutional assessment plan at Florida's Pensacola Junior College (PJC), unit supervisors complete reports on one or more indicators of effectiveness related to 51 goals in 16 functional areas. This handbook provides a guide for completing unit reports for the 1996-97 assessment cycle. Following an introduction describing the…

There has been a rapid increase over the past 5 years in both the number of charter schools in the United States and the enthusiasm for the concept. Most research about charter schools has not addressed how charter schools create and sustain high-quality learning communities. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated how learning…

In June 1991, a study was conducted at South Carolina's Spartanburg Technical College to determine the career and educational experiences of graduates who had received an associate degree, diploma, or certificate in the 1987-88 academic year. Surveys were sent to 354 graduates, resulting in 123 usable responses. Study findings included the…

Focusing on accreditation recommendations and outcomes for Florida's Pensacola Junior College (PJC), this document presents abstracts of five Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation site visit reports prepared in 1956, 1966, 1976, 1987, and 1997. Each abstract presents actions suggested by the SACS; recommendations, or…

Evaluation is an important component of measuring educational effectiveness. The purpose of this survey is to analyze the attainment of "graduate standards," a school district's list of ten statements of adult roles, skills, and education all students need in order to be successful after high-school graduation. These standards encompass areas such…

This booklet provides a list of questions parents should entertain in assessing and choosing a school for their child. The questions apply to schools in both the public and private system and span the full range of kindergarten through twelfth-grade institutions. They are meant to assist parents in evaluating whether the school is providing a…

Organized around eight institutional standards, this report describes outcomes of a self-study conducted at California's Los Angeles City College (LACC) between 1994 and 1997. Introductory materials present a summary of outcomes for each standard, a description of the self-study process, lists of committee members, descriptions of survey…

Since the Blue Ribbon Schools Program was established by the Secretary of Education in 1982, it has developed into a national school-improvement strategy. This brochure outlines the three purposes of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program: (1) identify and recognize outstanding public and private schools across the nation; (2) make research-based…