This qualitative research case study was conducted to describe expectations of superintendent leadership in the era of 21st century public education reform with the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions…

Paraeducators perform multiple roles in U.S. classrooms, including among others preparing classroom activities, working with students individually and in small groups, supporting individualized programming for students with disabilities, managing classroom behavior, and engaging with parents and communities. Yet, little research provides insights…

At the request of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) undertook this analysis of the teacher policies in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). A coalition of civil rights groups were also involved in this project, including Parent Organization Network, Families in Schools, Alliance for a…

The reason teachers want collective bargaining is far simpler than has heretofore been recognized by scholars. In de jure collective bargaining, agreements arrived at in the bargaining process are legal and binding on both parties. In de facto negotiation, agreements could be struck between the teachers and the board of education, but, when…

Spells out some tough guidelines for keeping school boards in charge of public schools. Suggests including in contracts a strong management rights clause, a no-strike clause, cancellation of all bargaining rights during the term of the contract, and specific and detailed restrictions on grievance procedures. (Author/JM)

Attitudes of four groups of professional educators are compared respecting the role of the superintendent in collective negotiations. The AFT sees him as head of the opposition's negotiating team. The NEA sees him as a member of the professional staff and as a neutral catalyst providing resource information while teacher representatives negotiate…

If a school board member with teacher union sympathies is leaking critical information to the union during bargaining, changes in negotiations procedures must be made to prevent the spy from being privy to confidential information. (Author/JM)

Describes the successful efforts of the school board in a small Tennessee community to reverse teachers' initial enthusiasm for forming a union. (Author/WD)

This is the 19th in a continuing series of kit-booklets issued to help school boards develop written policies in key areas. The intent in providing samples is to encourage thinking in policy terms; and to provide working papers to be edited, modified or adapted to meet local requirements. The negotiation subtopics covered in the samples include…

The basic objective of this proposed grievance procedure is to resolve grievances as efficiently and informally as possible. The model recommends three steps. The first provides an established, yet informal, procedure to resolve minor grievances. The employee with the complaint is interviewed by his immediate supervisor and then, if necessary, by…

Offers predictive propositions concerning what happens when the school board is the initiator of change and the union is the protector of the status quo. (Author/JM)

The purpose of this booklet, according to the authors, is to survey in sufficient detail the major components of the process of collective bargaining as it has evolved in Ohio schools. Written from a board of education perspective, it is intended as a ready reference for Ohio taxpayers, who are affected by the emergence of strong teachers' unions…

Uses Thanksgiving dinner metaphor to introduce discussion of ways to improve the negotiation process. (PKP)

This guide to effective school board service is a "how-to" manual for school board members. The objective of the book is to condense the time board members need to become more effective school leaders, but it also contains information and advice intended to be helpful to experienced board members. Consisting of 17 chapters, the book is…

This paper reports on part of a longitudinal study of the interaction between labor relations and governance in one suburban school system. It focuses on the all-important relationship between the school board and the superintendent in an Illinois school district. When dissension between these two parties occurs, it is possible for teachers to…