Unfortunately, Arkansas has faced a massive shortage of certified teachers for decades. Statewide, 4 percent of public school teachers are uncertified, with another 3 percent teaching out of field. In many districts, the percentage of uncertified is much higher: as high as 56 percent in the Helena-West Helena School District, and 52 percent in the…

Unfortunately, far too many Arkansas students are being taught by teachers who are uncertified in the subject they are teaching. This report analyzes the extent and potential causes of Arkansas' teacher shortage and propose a series of recommendations for state policymakers. Two primary findings about the shortage were identified: (1) Shortages…

This "Informed Educator" examines the issue of performance pay for teachers. Research looking for a possible link between performance pay and student learning is examined, and implementation issues are addressed. Finally, the need to broaden the discussion of performance pay to a more comprehensive review that explicitly connects the structure of…

Accompanied by several charts and tables, this study examines differential salary increments for veteran and novice teachers in 43 New York State school districts. Awarding larger percentage increments to experienced rather than to beginning employees is less common in comparable professions and may discourage new teaching recruits. Includes 17…

Using personnel files provided by New York's state education department, this study examines and compares teacher retention rates in relation to region and gender from 1974 through 1984 in school districts using alternative practices of internal salary distribution. A total of 57 school districts from 2 regions of the state were included in the…

Replies to James G. Ward's objections to the author's recent "Journal of Education Finance" article, which concluded that comprehensive collective bargaining had no significant effect on teachers' salaries or fringe benefits in Wisconsin school districts during 1979-80. Calls for alternative strategies to improve teachers' economic…

An urban school district developed strategies for recruiting and retaining minority teachers. Examination of data on teachers hired over a 3-year period found the retention rate for African American teachers was slightly higher than that of European American teachers. Teachers with at least 3 years' experience in the district were surveyed as to…

"Education Indicators" are facts and statistics that help to describe a public education system. They are tools which are useful in examining and measuring the effectiveness of the system. Examples include information such as the amount of local funds raised to support local schools, per pupil expenditures, pupil-teacher ratios, and…

At the request of the school committee of that town, this bureau made last spring a comprehensive survey of the schools of Winchester, Massachusetts, a residential suburban town near the city of Boston. The report of the findings of the committee making the survey, together with constructive criticisms and recommendations for the improvement of…

"Education Indicators" are facts and statistics that help to describe a public education system. They are tools which are useful in examining and measuring the effectiveness of the system. Examples include information such as the amount of local funds raised to support local schools, per pupil expenditures, pupil-teacher ratios, and…

This eighth edition of "The Condition of K-12 Public Education in Maine" is designed to provide Maine citizens, legislators, and educators a yearly report on the state of Maine public schools and education. This new edition updates educational information which appeared in earlier editions, and also provides information on several new…