Examines legal issues concerning teachers' noninstructional duties. Discusses several factors influencing court decisions that uphold reasonable assignments of noninstructional duty, including courts' reluctance to interfere with school policies. Presents five assignment guidelines for administrators eager to minimize teacher dissatisfaction and…

Intended for administrators and policymakers as well as teachers, this digest reports on the relationship between class size and writing achievement. The digest first reviews the contradictory findings of class size research, then examines results of meta-analyses of these studies, and subsequent responses. The digest then explores the…

State special education regulations on class size/caseload in special education programs and services are analyzed, and regulations from 21 states are excerpted. Research on class size in general education and special education is reviewed. While there are hundreds of studies reported for general education, there have been very few studies focused…

Four suggestions are offered for making teachers' first year on the job more than just a test of endurance: provide adequate supplies, make assignments carefully, do not overload them, and provide a support system. (TE)

Discusses how to manipulate a database to create a spreadsheet which can be used to help decide which teaching areas are understaffed and by how much. Focuses on the use of the Lotus 1-2-3 database statistical functions. (TW)

Urges seeking different sources for obtaining funds for Soviet teacher salaries. Suggests that the state fund basic curriculum with help of national/ethnic associations, parents, and concerned organizations that fund other aspects of teachers' work. Argues that raising teachers' salaries and decreasing workload to resemble average citizen's will…

This report is an initial effort to provide systematic information on teacher contracts in Massachusetts. In 1999, the Pioneer Institute solicited copies of the current contract from all districts in the state. Forty districts were selected to reflect the makeup of the Commonwealth. This study confirms that teacher compensation is determined by…

This study examines the perceptions of 113 school board members, 119 principals, and 2,028 teachers from 9 states (Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming) regarding the preparation of teachers and the availability of professional services as well as education resources. The study also…

Criticizes Alexsandr Nikitenko's proposal for raising Soviet teacher salaries as taking from some to give to others. Argues that basing salaries on someone else's evaluation of a teacher's work will not enhance the teaching profession's prestige. Insists that good teachers work harder because of love for their work, not because of money. (DK)

Provides an overview of a project designed to develop a comprehensive, state-mandated program to reduce teacher paperwork through the use of microcomputers. Describes the survey conducted prior to developing the program, a pilot test, and the implementation of an acquisition plan for hardware and software. (TW)

As part of a 45-state study, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed during the 1982-83 school year to 70 of Oklahoma's 237 public K-12 school districts enrolling fewer than 1,000 students; the questionnaire requested information about rural districts, teachers, students, and school programs. For the 45 responding districts, average student…