Describes the pros and cons involved in elevating bus drivers to professional status. Under current federal regulations, bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL). The CDL test, however, does not require certain abilities pertaining to student transportation, particularly student-management skills. Describes strategies for…

Addresses teacher qualifications and certification as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. Teachers must know the subjects they teach. Briefly discusses teacher-preparation programs; teacher-retention rates; different pathways into teaching; teacher pay; and districts' role in assigning out-of-field teachers. (Contains three graphs.) (WFA)

Methods that will improve student achievement include: start early; focus on reading and math; bring in trained tutors; invest in teachers; shrink the size of classes and schools; and increase the amount of time spent learning. Offers guidelines for evaluating initiatives for improving student achievement, discusses technology, and provides…

The author's five steps for basing school teacher salaries on position rather than seniority include (1) developing job descriptions, (2) establishing job components for various school positions (such as education and experience), (3) assigning values to these components, (4) tallying point values, and (5) building a salary structure based on…