In pointing out the problems involved in evaluation by administrators, the author presents a strong argument for collegial evaluation and presents a proposal outlining a flexible system for peer evaluation of teachers. (MD)

This paper examines how the Texas charter-school law is being implemented, with particular attention paid to issues of equity and social justice. It focuses on the demographic composition of students and staff in Texas' charter schools, provisions for oversight and accountability, early indices of student performance, ongoing controversies,…

In October 19, at the request of the Board of Education in the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Education made a preliminary survey of the schools of the District and reported to the board a plan for the reorganization of the administrative and teaching forces of the schools, including a schedule of salaries. It confined itself wholly to the…

School boards are woefully unprepared to deal with "make or buy" issues, due to massive union efforts to eliminate or restrict board freedom to contract for services. Teachers neither understand nor support a market economy. School boards' contracting out ability will not be secure until favorable legislative options are considered and…

Reforms are a series of beginnings and endings to disconnected events in discussions of school change. However, changes in education are interrelated and can be more effective when viewed accordingly. Certain state education policies are offered as examples of discontinuities in change. A multicultural education experiment in Lancaster,…

The gradual shift to state control of schools has spawned unintentional results, including a negative impact on teacher autonomy and professionalism. Although states' major role should be establishing a core curriculum, local flexibility is essential for adapting school policies to varied needs and utilizing staff abilities. Local school boards…

Discusses standards for the design and implementation of the electronic data networks developed for, and adopted by, the Pittsburgh Public Schools as district policy. Describes the layered approach which includes the physical layer, the protocol layer, and the application layer, and recommends hardware. A sidebar features court television in high…

Although 1992 Scholastic Aptitude Test scores have risen slightly, scores are closely linked to family income and education. ACT (American College Testing Program) scores are tied more to academic preparation. Reading performance has improved, but math performance lags behind other nations. Educator demographics, salary information, and regional…

Analyzes school board members' on-the-job training and development from board members' and superintendents' perspectives. Most board members viewed their own learning development within a broader framework than did most superintendents; the latter mistakenly saw themselves as central to board learning. Implications for three policy areas (training…

According to a recent survey, both school board members and secondary principals support reform proposals involving professional development schools, magnet schools, teacher certification, and teacher empowerment and are opposed to school choice. The groups disagree concerning teacher accountability issues. Implications are discussed. (five…

With physical facilities in every neighborhood offering unique citizen access, public schools must be major players in collaborative initiatives to provide more flexible, comprehensive, and coordinated services to needy children and families. School board leadership will be vital to any efforts to develop alternative governance structures and/or…

Public education and the preservation of American civilization is keyed to the well-being of the nation's 50 largest school districts. Large urban districts are difficult to operate, serve largely nonwhite and needy populations, and are undergoing badly eroding property tax bases essential for their funding. We desperately need informed,…

The urban school systems of four nontraditional superintendents (Harold Levy, Roy Romer, Paul Vallas, and Alan Bersin) include the nation's three largest (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago) districts and San Diego. Some of these chief executives are managing more successfully than others; all four are facing difficult obstacles. (MLH)

An AASA report says 80 percent of the nation's superintendents are evaluated annually and 12 percent more often than that. However, comprehensive assessments are rare. Most are done in closed session and are rather perfunctory. Reluctant to use student outcomes, boards are trying more detailed approaches. (MLH)

Discusses a newly appointed education chief executive officer's efforts to influence his department's leadership culture. Guiding values to reshape leadership were fashioned on trust, respect, risk taking, openness, and flexibility. Findings indicate that actions from high-level educators can influence principals' leadership approaches. Changes…