This study examines the effects of the 1969 Decentralization Law on a community school district. The central question to which the book addresses itself is: What has been the effect of decentralization on school effectiveness? To reach a conclusion, a comparison was made of the following data before and after decentralization: reading scores,…

This report examined the extent to which student attendance, teacher certification, and teacher absence explained differences in reading and mathematics achievement among elementary and middle schools in New York City (beyond that explained by such student demographics as receiving free lunch, being an English language learner, and receiving…

This news brief presents information on managing substitute teaching. The information is based on issues discussed at a summit meeting which included public school administrators and personnel directors from around the nation. The main topics of concern focused around four core components related to the management of substitute teaching:…

This publication provides a comprehensive review of the research literature on employee absenteeism. Although focusing on the absenteeism of educational personnel, the study also draws on the information available on employee absenteeism outside education--in business, industry, and government service. The major sections of the report provide…

Over the course of their kindergarten through twelfth grade education, children in American public schools will spend the equivalent of one school year under the guidance of a substitute teacher. Yet in most districts, substitutes are given the keys to the classroom without a day's training. While requirements vary by state, some may hold advanced…

Outcomes of the Orchard Plan, an experiment designed to reorganize funding to support new models of instructional delivery, are described in this report. Basic elements of the program include an extended school calendar; a reorganization of categorical funding into intersession enrichment courses for at-risk students; a reduction in class size…

A joint committee of a local teachers' association and the Tacoma Public Schools studied stress conditions for classroom teachers. Teachers estimated the magnitude of stress for forty-four events and noted those which they had actually experienced. "Involuntary transfer" was perceived as the most stressful event; seventeen per cent of the teachers…

This 15-minute videotape offers a motivational staff development program for teachers. Four segments focus on: (1) preparing for the teacher's absence (e.g., knowing the school's policy and protocol, preparing a safety kit for the substitute teacher, and keeping a box of learning materials available for the substitute); (2) effective learning…

In approximately 1,000 grade-4 and grade-5 classrooms in Pakistan, student mathematics and science achievement were not related to teacher absenteeism, aggregate student absenteeism, or minutes of instruction. The findings suggest the limits of educational policy interventions: that mandatory allocated instructional time is less relevant to…

Examines policies and procedures concerning substitute teachers in public schools in the 19-state area encompassed by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. (MH)

This report makes policy implementers and educators aware of the importance of work attendance and its relation to student outcomes. It also encourages policymakers to better implement and supplement existing policies through different strategy options. The focus is on the Pacific region. Rather than recommending a punitive approach, the report…

Most school administrations rely on one of two main forms of social control to ensure teacher conformity with organizational goals. The first, feedback and socialization, depends on teachers' attitudinal and behavioral conformity, commitment, and personal involvement in maintaining high standards. The second, programming and sanctions, depends on…

Managers in 281 schools of all types in 20 LEAs in England completed a survey about teacher absence and its causes. This paper reports reasons for teachers' long-term absences in those schools, examining the link between age and ability to report for work. Head teachers' views on the impact of school stress on teacher attendance are also explored.…

Attendance rates and selected academic and school climate indicators in 39 secondary schools in Cleveland, Ohio, were studied by ranking and grouping the schools into the top third, the middle third, and the lowest third, based on attendance rates. Compared to the group of schools with highest attendance rates, the schools composing the lowest…

This 1971 study by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a survey of employment practices, and policies in member schools. Questionnaires were sent to 721 schools yielding a response rate of 84 percent. Data were broken down into five categories for analysis: boarding schools, day schools, enrollment, salary ranges, and…