Job-related measures of the educational effectiveness of an institution are critiqued. Three criteria of job-related measures are: the measure's ability to discriminate between the performance that can be attributed to the program being studied compared to what might have happened if there were no program, and whether the measure is economic.…

The minimum competency movement's rationale can be reduced to four problem-laden propositions: the state through its schools owes every child an education; a high school graduate should be at least minimally competent; schools should be held accountable for seeing to it that every child meets this standard; and to assure this, every child must be…

The minialist approach to social policy, especially concerning public education, has not worked because the assurance of minimal protection for the deprived also entails a rise in acceptable levels of attainment for those above the minimum, in order to preserve their competitive advantage. Also, particular minimums, such as universal elementary…

Presented in this report is a study of the North Carolina school finance system and related areas and recommendations for assuring more equitable financial support for an equal educational opportunity for every child in the State. An overview of the Commission's study is provided. Certain aspects of the public school system in North Carolina are…

The impact of an experiential/feedback oriented curricula on levels of confidence of dental students was examined. The study was conducted in the TEAM (Training in Expanded Auxiliary Management) program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The subjects were 31 senior dental students (fourth year) who had completed a…

The meaning of standardized achievement testing to 50 third-grade teachers was investigated through a construct validation procedure using questionnaires and structured open-ended interviews. Subjects were from 18 schools performing distinctly above or below prediction on the Delaware Educational Assessment Program Longitudinal Study.…

This paper defines concepts relating to institutional-productivity-models, lists components of a productivity-policy-model, and discusses several models. An institutional-productivitv-policy-model is a manipulative representation of the productivity of an institution or part of an institution. Components of an…

This volume contains the technical paper prepared by DHEW to give additional data and a more detailed analysis of materials used to study the cost implications of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR). This study was part of a larger project to investigate two questions: is the Federal regulation of day care financed under Title XX…

Investigations of both printed professional materials for reading teachers and the interaction of reading authorities across the United States have revealed ten current directions and needs in reading instruction. They are: (1) an emphasis on absolute educational accountability with respect to reading skills of students; (2) renewed and pronounced…

By law the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation has the primary responsibility for assuring the quality of elementary and secondary education programs in the state. The Commission finds its role as one of validation and process evaluation according to established procedures. Recently, the state legislature mandated the establishment of…

The phenomenon of minimum competency testing (MCT) is explored, beginning with its origins in public concern for educational accountability. Three major themes appearing in the states enacting prescriptive legislation are described: state standards/state test (Florida); state standards/local test (Oregon); and local standards/local test…

This report represents the first attempt by the Council of the Great City Schools to assess the states of minimal competency testing in its twenty-eight member cities. This report does not focus on the results of the tests, but on the general characteristics of each competency testing program. Few cities use the same tests or collaborate in…

Based on the theory that higher education in America has been on the decline since 1953, the decadence and hopes for renewal in higher learning are examined. The following afflictions are cited as cause for the decline: (1) a purposelessness or loss of the objects of wisdom and virtue; (2) intellectual disorder: all integration and order of…

The report presents the rationale and plan for Phase I of a projected six-month study of the problems associated with the coordination of migrant services. Objectives of Phase I were to produce a preliminary planning guide which provided a compendium of research, survey, and demonstration projects at the state and national levels, included a plan…

An evaluative approach for assessing the performance of administrators is presented. The process includes a peer and client review process, traditional review by superiors, and some aspects of management by objectives (MBO). Nine steps for implementing the evaluation program are outlined. A flow chart explaining traditional (superior-subordinate)…