Teaching quality is a crucial factor in student success, contributing to students' short- and long-term learning opportunities. High-quality teaching not only contributes to the improvement of student test scores and graduation rates but also gives students a "strong foundation from which to advance and achieve" in the future. Long term,…

Policymakers know that improving teaching in our schools requires a systemic look at many policies related to educator effectiveness. For example, teacher preparation programs need to be dramatically improved and strengthened, but without accompanying reform in compensation, even highly effective and innovative schools of education are unlikely to…

A year ago at ASBO International's Annual Meeting and Expo in Seattle, Washington, school business officials from four states presented a powerful double-session panel on the status of changes in teacher contracts and educational funding in their regions of the country. The presenters have since updated their comments with new information and…

In the era of No Child Left Behind, principals are increasingly held accountable for student performance. But are teacher labor agreements giving them enough flexibility to manage effectively? This study answers this question and others. It examines how much flexibility school leaders enjoy on key dimensions of management in America's fifty…

In May 1985, a survey was conducted by Napa Valley College (NVC) to determine the salary and personnel practices of the 48 single-campus community college districts in California and compare them with personnel practices at NVC. The survey focused on salary and benefit allocations in school budgets, estimated reserves or ending balance in 1984-85,…

In the face of declining enrollments and widespread reductions-in-force in school systems, job sharing can provide part-time positions for persons unable to work full-time and can allow some individuals to maintain their positions on a part-time basis as an alternative to being laid off. Job sharing can also benefit school systems by increasing…

This study was conducted to determine some aspects of the Sabbatical Leave Policy at a random sample of 23 California community colleges in order to compare the results to the policy at Southwestern Community College (SCC). Following a brief survey of research literature and a review of the sabbatical leave provisions of the California Education…

The policy statement on contract faculty employment presented in this document was adopted by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges as a model conforming to the provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 1725. The statement includes sections on hiring philosophy, affirmative action, position identification, search procedures, selection…

The policy statement on contract faculty employment presented in this document was adopted by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges as a model conforming to the provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 1725. The document contains sections addressing: (1) the college's philosophy regarding part-time faculty hiring; (2) affirmative action…

Although the continuity of faculty is an important factor in sustaining an institution's general education program, if the measure is attainment of learning outcomes, qualitative considerations, and not a faculty member's employment status, are more important in determining who should teach such courses. This author argues that relatively junior,…

This manual sets forth the affirmative action policies of the Ventura County Community College District (California). It includes: (1) a summary of pertinent affirmative action law; (2) policy statements, objectives, and timetables; (3) a list of the duties and responsibilities of the affirmative action officer; (4) methods of implementing…

Job Sharing--two persons sharing one full-time position--is becoming increasingly popular in the nation's schools. This guide provides information on policies and contracts and collective bargaining implications, based on practices in California, where the job sharing is allowed in 27 percent of the school districts. Provisions of policies and…

The purpose of a study conducted by the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges (CCCs) was to examine current policies and practices regarding the use of part-time faculty in the CCCs, faculty characteristics, implications for instructional quality, and policy options. The study involved a review of existing literature; data…

This paper charts a proposed 15-point plan to move from the present California public school system, devised over 50 years ago, to a system flexible enough to go into the next century. The plan is proposed by Charles S. Terrell, Jr., Ed.D., San Bernardino County superintendent of schools. The 15 points address changes in these areas: (1) class…

A study of the impact of Proposition 13 on the part-time faculty at California universities and colleges is hampered by: (1) the invisibility of part-time instructors in institutional reports and statements; (2) the confusion of Proposition 13 with other factors, such as declining enrollments; and (3) the fact that the full impact of Proposition…