In this article, we explain how overly prescriptive, rigid state statutory and regulatory policy frameworks regarding teacher evaluation, tenure and employment decisions outstrip the statistical reliability and validity of proposed measures of teaching effectiveness. We begin with a discussion of the emergence of highly prescriptive state…

District costs for teachers' health insurance are, on average, higher then employer costs for private-sector professionals. How much of this is attributable to collective bargaining? This article examines the question using data from the National Compensation Survey (NCS) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the state of Wisconsin. In…

A year ago at ASBO International's Annual Meeting and Expo in Seattle, Washington, school business officials from four states presented a powerful double-session panel on the status of changes in teacher contracts and educational funding in their regions of the country. The presenters have since updated their comments with new information and…

Gov. Scott Walker's sweeping proposal to scale back collective bargaining rights for most public employees in Wisconsin has sparked a rancorous standoff with teachers across the state--and fueled speculation about whether similar plans will gain traction in other parts of the country. But as massive demonstrations played out in Madison--an…

A survey of Wisconsin school districts showed that teacher resignation rates were quite low. Smaller districts faced the highest number of resignations. Resigning teachers tended to be rated by their supervisors as above average. The study results suggest that fears of "teacher flight" may be exaggerated. (PGD)

A disaggregated empirical study using the production function model with multiple regression statistical techniques found that comprehensive collective negotiating processes in Wisconsin's public school districts had no significant effect on the improvement of teachers' fringe benefits in 1979-80. (PGD)

A 1972-73 study found a negative correlation between collective bargaining and teacher salary levels in Wisconsin. Replication of the study in 1979-80 indicated that collective negotiations had no significant effect on salaries or on fringe benefits and that socioeconomic factors were of highest significance. (PGD)

Observes the changes in public education that occurred along the Wisconsin frontier. As the territory progressed, education changed from a winter-term only enterprise lead by male farmer/teachers to a full term lead by professionally trained women teachers. Identifies professionalization as the greatest influence on the feminization of teaching.…