A new model of public school district performance concerns the "employment relations" (ER) system within a school district--the policies, practices, and actions that govern relations between a district and its teachers. The model posits that the performance of public school districts is propelled by the quality of ER. Productive ER,…

The purpose of this study, conducted as part of the National Data Base on Faculty Involvement in Governance Project, was to examine the perceptions of full-time faculty at a private professional graduate school of their involvement in governance in relation to an ideal system of shared authority and involvement. Data were collected using a survey…

In response to changing management and budgetary strategies that have been driving decision making to the lowest administrative levels, institutional researchers have been attempting to identify indicators which can be used to evaluate institutional performance and progress. This paper reviews efforts to introduce departmental operational…

This study explored faculty views about a new concept, departmental vision. Since the literature presents many different views of what the term "vision" encompasses, this study sought to establish criteria useful in an academic setting. The study was conducted at a large midwestern public research university; data were collected through…

This study developed and validated a conceptual framework to explore the link between faculty receptivity and resistance to innovation and change, and organizational effectiveness. The study also sought to clearly delineate the difference between receptivity, which is defined as an internal or cognitive orientation toward change, and resistance,…

These conference papers examine the impact of the school reform movement in the United States on the recruitment and retention of minority teachers. The conference papers provide an insight into how school reform has been implemented around the country and suggest ways to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the reform movement for…

This booklet describes 46 change efforts that Connecticut educators have undertaken to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn at high levels and to succeed in a high performance economy. They are organized by category according to whether they are district-level changes, demonstration schools, or instructional practices. A summary…

This book contains nine papers presented during a year-long series of seminars and a conference that analyzed the relationship between economic restructuring and industrial relations involving the joint academics, union leaders, government officials, business executives, and graduate fellows. These analyses include case studies from Western…

This booklet provides practical "how-to" information to federal employees on the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM). The booklet is intended primarily for program officials who have begun to think seriously about or have already begun a TQM effort and want guidance on the training effort to support it. Background information on TQM…

Designed to help parents and teachers think beyond the ordinary ways in which parent-family involvement in education is considered and approached, this book describes 34 operational parent-family involvement programs in preschools and in elementary, middle, and high schools. It also describes programs run by school districts and communities. Among…

This study used focused interviews, participant observations, and document review to identify five organizational and personal factors that 40 teachers (general education, special education, and specialists) in a small rural school district reported as affecting their receptivity to change: (1) the degree to which schools are ready for change; (2)…

This trainer's packet, designed to be used in conjunction with the participant's manual, was prepared for a 2-day workshop to restructure schools to embrace all children, including those with disabilities. The trainer's materials include: program objectives; masters for overhead transparencies; and descriptions of learning activities, including…

Consistent with education reform efforts, the U.S. Department of Education, in November 1993, invited a group of 119 outstanding public and private school teachers to the Goals 2000 Teacher Forum in Washington, D.C. to hear their thoughts and explore ways in which the federal government might work in partnership with teachers to achieve the…

A growing trend in social science research is to reject those modes that treat individuals as objects of research and to accept the role of catalyst in helping the people to do their own research. Also, there is an increasing demand that results of social research must serve in a timely way to improve the situation of those involved. Participatory…

This monograph examines issues that will shape teacher education programs in the future. Following a foreword by Robert M. McClure, the monograph is organized into three chapters. The first, "Perestroika and Professionalism: The Case for Restructuring Teacher Preparation" (Linda Darling-Hammond), focuses on changes wrought by school…