Accountability is the key in a site-based program. Argues that all schools must have equal access to all programs and all students must have equal access to specialized programs. (MLF)

The wait-and-react and laundry-list approaches to combating teachers' collective-bargaining demands are ineffective. An alternative goals-setting approach requires management and the district negotiations team to identify important needs and objectives. West Seneca Central School District ended contentious negotiations by presenting unions with…

Site-based school management opens the possibility of problems in districtwide risk management and liability prevention programs. Describes a program to transfer prevention law and risk management strategies to individual school sites. Cautions that only duly authorized agents of local school boards can commit boards to contractual obligations.…

Today, K-12 schools urgently need change. Business administrators and principals both work in key leadership positions and must respond to current demands for higher standards and efficient spending. Both must share a clear picture of district goals, assume an interdependent attitude, and apply polished interpersonal skills in their work…

Typical district contracts often impede professionalism and superior school performance. Boston's "Pilot Schools" and Baltimore's contract public schools represent isolated reform efforts. Streamlined master contracts and school-based compacts seem promising. Reform requires enabling changes in legislation, school authority, shared…

Comparative analysis of state performance-based accountability systems (PABS), which consist of five components: standards, assessments, multiple indicators, rewards, and sanctions. Discusses three unintended consequences of PABS: narrowing of curriculum, teaching to the test, and timeliness of available data. (Contains eight references.) (PKP)

Describes measures designed to minimize errors in the summarization and reporting of financial and operating data as well as to minimize the opportunities for misuse of a school system's assets. (Author)

Outlines the objectives and responsibilities of state and local education agencies and urges their cooperation so that children will receive adequate nutritional benefits and develop into productive citizens. (MLF)

Describes issues related to the Ontario educational reform legislation, a significant aspect of which is a new student-focused funding model. The stated purpose of the new funding model is to ensure that education funding operates in a "fair and nondiscriminatory manner" across the province. Asserts that the legislation does not satisfactorily…

School districts are being asked to provide expanded variety and quality of educational services with fewer tax dollars. Discusses the search for accountability, productivity, quality, and equity in education and alerts school business officials to the problems and conflicts inherent in such a search. (MLF)

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board is completing an examination of current practices in state and local government for reporting service efforts and accomplishments (SEA) indicators. Exhibits present the goals and objectives for elementary and secondary education and recommendations for a comprehensive set of SEA indicators for school…

The School Site Allocations Model, tested in five Ohio districts, consists of the following subsystems: administration, facilities and operations, staff support and development, pupil support, and instruction. Applying these functions at the central office and at the school site can help districts determine how well they are managing their…

If future contracts with school district professional personnel can incorporate salary and compensation equity and evaluation systems that are fair, then the issues of accountability and value for the taxpayers will be favorably settled. (MLF)

Owners of public building projects are increasingly turning to Interdisciplinary Coordination and Constructibility Reviews prior to going out to bid. The ICCR is a methodical quality-assurance process designed to make building projects more cost effective, constructible, and of better quality. This article describes the Preconstruction ICCR…

Presents organizational criteria and implementation techniques that school districts can use to meet their responsibility for accountability to the community. (MLF)