Discusses how seniority rules in teachers' contracts have affected the performance of public education during the last 10 years of decreasing enrollments and growing power of teachers' unions. The merits of alternative types of employment contracts are considered. (Author/RH)

Procedures are described for studying the reliability of decisions based on specific passing scores with tests made up of discrete items and designed to measure continuous rather than categorical traits. These procedures are based on the estimation of the joint distribution of true scores and observed scores. (CTM)

The relationship between types of students and the times students preregistered for the fall semester was investigated. The relationship between ACT scores, sex, approximate high school class size, first semester GPA, and time of registration/orientation at the University of North Dakota was explored. (MLW)

Conceptually, performance-based education shows promise of preserving quality, equal opportunity, and efficiency given the mandate for better utilization of resources in light of predicted declines in student populations and revenues. Requirements to implement a performance-based system and barriers that may impede its adoption or success are…

The author sketches the curricular and structural changes in schooling resulting from Spain's 1970 reform law instituting Basic General Education. He considers how well the system is operating 10 years later and whether it is providing schooling that is more democratic, more relevant to an industrial society, and more efficient. (Author/SJL)

Students and faculty were polled for their reactions to a new format for grouping third- and fourth-year dental students and full- and part-time faculty for more efficient clinical instruction. Both groups felt positively about the change. More study of student-faculty relationships and of dental care level effects is recommended. (MSE)

Approximately two-thirds of the population depends on one-third of the population for survival. The valiant 77 million constitute the full-time work force in the United States. The conflict between excellence and equality weakens the development of a maximally productive work force. (JN)

A new machine records system designed for the McMaster University's Office of the Registrar is described. The new system uses data received from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, as well as data received directly from applicants. Effective use of the computer allows staff more time for counseling and providing information. (MLW)

Using New York State data for 1970-94, considers how the teacher salary structures in public school districts have changed and whether salary increases have been allocated to achieve the greatest gain in education quality. Instead of using salary incentives to entice and retain the most able college graduates, most districts have inefficiently…

A study analyzed the change in average cost per student and student/faculty ratios of a selection of Victoria (Australia) colleges of advanced education that were involved in 1981-82 mergers. Results are compared to average costs of some colleges not involved in the mergers to discover whether mergers resulted in economies of scale. (Author/MSE)

To determine if initial keyboard training resulted in more effective use of capital investment, two groups were tested: one received keyboard training using a manual typewriter, the other trained in word processing on a computer. Keyboarding was tested before and after and student attitudes were surveyed. Concluded that keyboard training is cost…

The acquisition of multiplication facts by four elementary students with learning disabilities was compared under two instructional delivery formats--teacher directed and computer assisted. All students mastered more facts in the teacher-directed condition. In addition, teachers provided many more opportunities to respond and showed a higher…

A strategy at the University of Virginia to use electronic forms to reduce the size of its data entry operation has led to development of a prototype of an electronic forms system based on World Wide Web technology. The elements of the system, its structure, and its implementation to date are described. (Author/MSE)

Electronic mail is a rich communications medium, but it also presents problems of privacy and efficient use of time. If electronic mail is to be the communication medium of choice in the workplace, it is incumbent on responsible managers and human resources professionals to establish guidelines for its appropriate and productive use. Examples from…

Research on university marketing structures suggests environments without unique market segments result in circular, multi-layered structures; marketing autonomy is directly related to resource control; communication and cooperation among organizational layers is inversely related to resource control; number of autonomous organizational layers is…