The critical issue discussed in this document is the extent to which changes now occurring in the field of education--in state laws, administrative actions, and educational practice--are informed by valid research and experiences. Questions are raised about the adequacy of the informational base of the main reports on excellence and reform, and…

This pamphlet summarizes the recommendations of a task force of educational administrators who have experience in school-based management, a process of decentralization of authority based on the beliefs that those most closely affected by decisions ought to play a significant role in making those decisions, and that educational reform efforts will…

Intended as a summary report for state leaders, this document outlines current problems in education, particularly science and math education, and suggests ways in which the state educational systems can be changed to provide students with an adequate preparation for knowledge-intensive jobs involving the retrieval, processing, and transmission of…

Many problems arise from inaccurate expectations for preservice teacher education and its relationship to what goes on in elementary and secondary schools. Preservice education is expected to provide schools with a continuous supply of highly qualified candidates. However, preservice teacher education exerts little proactive control over teacher…

An excellent teacher education program demands the careful integration of both campus-based and field-based instruction over a substantial amount of time. Teachers must be thoroughly prepared in general academic work and in pedagogy, and they should be exposed to the actualities of the classroom. An excellent teacher education program needs high…

Discusses the transformation of service industries since World War II into the number one element in the economy, emphasizing the role that technology has played. Addresses the need for service industries to become even more technology-intensive, in an effort to stabilize employment and make manufacturing in the United States more competitive. (TW)

Describes a survey of the 50 top ranked Fortune 500 service organizations that was conducted to determine the prevalence of chief information officers, their reporting relationships, and their reporting responsibilities. Differences between chief information officers and management information systems directors are identified, and suggestions for…

This article argues that hiring a business manager makes good fiscal sense in many school districts if it frees the superintendent to focus on important educational tasks. (TE)

Surveys 37 science education graduates from 1977 through 1983 who had not taught or had taught but left. Reports the responses of the graduates on 19 questions and follow-up interviews designed to determine why they did not teach or why they left. Low salary, lack of respect, and lack of professionalism are cited as the major reasons. (YP)

The General Accounting Office's (GAO's) director of health care-public health issues testified before Congress regarding growing concerns about the adequacy of the health care work force and lessons learned from the experience of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) in addressing the maldistribution of health care professionals. The following…

Beginning with brief descriptions of the statutory duties of school board presidents and clerks, as well as of boards and administrators in teacher hearing procedures, this handbook is intended to serve as a guide for administrators, local board presidents, clerks, and secretaries in recording board of education meetings. Following chapter 1's…

How teacher candidates are recruited and the quality of those candidates in Japanese education is investigated. Chapter 1 discusses the quality of teacher candidates and looks at the higher education system, colleges of education, and the quality of students in colleges of education. Chapter 2 examines teacher preparation curricula, the…

Intended for administrators and policy makers as well as teachers, this digest presents a selection of reactions to "A Nation at Risk," the report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. The five parts of the digest discuss the five major recommendations of the ccmmission's report concerning curriculum, standards and…

Compares the traditional model of a service economy to models based on analyses of actual economic and employment trends, and discusses the role of information technologies in producer and consumer services; current policy issues concerning the information sector; and the need to integrate the concepts of goods and services. (CLB)

Describes emerging employment markets in the United Kingdom that require information skills, and examines the reasons why librarians and information workers have had little impact on these markets. The need for practical competencies, as well as formal qualifications, is cited as a major reason for this trend. (3 references) (CLB)