Some time ago the Commissioner of Education was requested to offer advice in regard to the reorganization of the Francis Scott Key School, to meet more effectively the needs of its children and the adult population of that section, and to suggest plans for a building to be so constructed as to adapt it to the use of the school so reorganized. In…

The movement toward the establishment of the State board of education as the administrative head of the educational system continues to gain ground. At the present time there are 42 States having such boards with functions relating to the common schools. Of the other 6 States, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota have boards known as State…

Compares two board members' educational philosophies and motivations, highlighting typical power struggles with patrons, teachers, and administrators. Both board members hold traditional educational values and a "back to basics" approach to curriculum development. Whereas Tom considers his unwillingness to compromise a positive…

Drawing from general experience and specific examples from the New Beginnings program in San Diego (California), outlines roles and responsibilities for school superintendents, board members, principals, and teachers involved in implementing school-linked services. Calls for increased accountability to measure progress toward defined goals. (SLD)

Highlighting Massachusetts initiatives, examines the recent state movement toward adoption of curriculum frameworks and state assessments as vehicles for improving accountability and student achievement. Absence of standards guarantees stratified educational opportunities. Reform initiatives should include practitioners; avoid prescriptive,…

In this paper, the author discusses the federal role in education, which raises fundamental questions about how federal programs affect the schools. He suggests principles for a new federal role and shows how government policies have made schools more formal and complex; engineered political pressures that distorted schools' operations and…

As part of its Priorities, Quality, and Productivity (PQP) initiative, the Illinois State Board of Higher Education asked institutions to address issues associated with faculty roles and responsibilities. This paper describes the statewide information collected, how the data are used in Board reports, and how improved data collection might…

Panels comprised of representatives of school administrators, classroom teachers, school boards, and teacher education institutions identified educational issues and potential solutions to them. The panels deliberated on the areas of: (1) recruitment into teacher preparation; (2) assessment of teacher preparation programs; (3) recruitment and…

This report analyzes the content and development of the 45 school district career ladder plans submitted in 1984 to the Utah State Office of Education. Descriptive commentary and data tables are used to examine (1) the structure and composition of planning committees; (2) teacher evaluation provisions, including changes in evaluation methods, the…

In response to pervasive problems of low income, anticipated loss of employment in the textile industry, high dropout rates, high crime rates, and poor relationships among municipalities, Gaston County, North Carolina, has developed an innovative set of processes for promoting cooperation and facilitating leadership techniques. The Gaston System…

The Chief State School Officers of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) have adopted a recommendation calling for comparable state measures of educational progress through multiple indicators, including student achievement. Current state criterion-referenced testing programs provide information regarding specific student skills and…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) adopted a new and more specific policy about elementary student retention in the 1981-82 school year. Students will be at least 1 year behind in their reading levels at grades 1 through 6 and/or 1 year behind in mathematics competencies at grades 4 through 6 to be considered for retention. Within the…

Alternatives in coping with the problems related to declining enrollment in rural school districts were explored in a study undertaken in 1976 by a special committee appointed by the Iowa Association of School Boards. Over a two year period the 18 member committee examined enrollment, finance, curriculum, facilities, faculty, mergers, and other…

An evaluation study of the district's counseling and guidance services was undertaken to provide guidance to the San Mateo City School District Board of Trustees in their consideration of staff reductions. Evaluation to support policy decisions should use multiple measures, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data addressing board…

The development of secondary education in the United States since the beginning of the present century has been truly remarkable. Public high-school enrollment increased by 257 per cent in the 20 years between 1900 and 1920. An increase of 53 per cent was reported in only six years (from 1916 to 1922). Legal provisions now exist for the…