Currently, there has been substantial interest, in Australia and internationally, in policy activities related to outcomes-based educational performance indicators and their link with growing demands for accountability of teachers and schools. In order to achieve a fair comparison between schools, it is commonly agreed that a correction should be…

Accountability reports, using both qualitative and quantitative measures of higher education effectiveness, are being mandated by many state legislatures. To date, not enough is known about the components, measurement, and uses of summary data concerning faculty productivity at the higher education level. There are no universally accepted…

A growing emphasis on teacher accountability, coupled with declining enrollments and reduced revenues, has increased the importance of teacher evaluations as a basis for staffing decisions, even though there is no clear definition of teacher effectiveness. Accordingly, legal standards are provided for the procedural and substantive issues of due…

A study surveyed the views of 140 Tennessee members of the International Reading Association (IRA) regarding the state's Comprehensive Education Reform Act (CERA). The subjects, primarily elementary and secondary school teachers, were asked to respond on a five-point scale to statements concerning three elements of the CERA: (1) an incentive pay…

Before teacher evaluation forms can have any significance for educational research their validity and reliability must be established. This study concerns itself with defining the suitability of the criteria-establishing items that may be contained on teacher evaluations. The areas of inquiry are: the rater (evaluator) difficulty level of each…

This report describes the procedures followed and the recommendations made by a committee formed to study the possibility of initiating some type of merit pay plan in the Wichita, Kansas public school system. Although the committee made efforts to select school systems of 50,000-77,000 enrollments that had installed merit pay plans, they failed to…

A structure for the evaluation of all levels of educational personnel is presented. The six assumptions regarding the evaluation instrument which form the structure's rationale are listed. Two examples of its actual use are illustrated: evaluation of post secondary teachers and counselors. (Author/MV)

Argues the importance of improving teacher evaluation and educational accountability, and outlines a suggested model for effective teacher supervision and evaluation. (JG)

Describes how curriculum specialists and supervisors can use two generic observation categories of effective teaching--development and management of lessons and presentation of subject matter--to identify quality teaching of writing across grade levels. (SRT)

The major purpose of this study was to discover whether existing practices for evaluating instruction are intended to help elementary school teachers improve student learning. The study examined similarities and differences in the perceptions of teachers and principals about teacher evaluation and analyzed the degrees to which evaluation of…

Until both public and profession look on evaluation as an important, continuous activity in bringing about instructional improvement and an integral part of the instructional process itself, and until this view is reflected in the allocation of talent, time, and money, evaluation will continue to be an ineffective tool at best. (Author)

The author examines claims that progressive teaching methods are one cause of declining standards and looks at national monitoring systems developed as a political and administrative response to this issue. Finding these bureaucratic procedures inconsistent with the ideals of progressive education, he proposes an alternative school-based…

Comments on the effects of the national accountability drive on the teacher. Briefly reports on the results of one accountability program in one school district. (Author/RK)

Explores and criticizes some contentious issues involved in a British legislation-driven teacher-appraisal system that encourages professional development but regards schools and teachers as consumable products. Explores a self-appraisal approach that upholds the profession, but produces clear performance indicators to provide a stricter…

Reviews techniques for evaluating teachers in Britain and other countries, as well as personnel evaluation in industry. Examines the linking of appraisal with pay, promotion, or dismissal. Argues against the accountability model of appraisal and makes a case for formative evaluation. (SK)