Statement of the problem. The problem of the study was to develop a model for a regional service to recruit out-of-state teachers for California public schools. Purposes. The purposes of the study wore as follows: A.To determine the out-of-state recruitment practices in the region. B. To determine the kinds of out-of-state teachers desired by the districts in the region C. To determine the reasons out-of-state teachers accept specific positions in school districts D. To determine desirable out-of-state recruitment practices in order to establish a regional recruiting service Importance of the study. The problem of obtaining a sufficient number of qualified teachers for the public schools in California each year in acute.

Problem. Teacher strikes have increased from a single strike in the late fifties to approximately 180 in the past year, 1980. This has presented quite a dilemma for the public school sector. The problem in this study was to investigate the attitudes held towards teachers' strikes by public school Teachers, administrators, board of trustee members, and members of the general public. The study also attempted to determine if there was a significant difference in the attitudes, held by these groups in communities which had experienced a teacher strike and those who had not. Finally, the variables of sex, age, marital status, occupation, salary, educational level, union member- ship, and parentage were tested for effect on attitudes held by the lay population.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of California SB 813 mentor teachers in selected districts in northern California, to investigate selection procedures and responsibilities, to assess perceptions of mentor teachers regarding their helpfulness in improving instructional quality, and their satisfaction with the role. An analysis of the helpfulness of the mentor teacher role in improving instructional quality as perceived by teachers assisted by the mentor teachers and their principals was included in this study. Procedures. Ninety-three mentor teachers from twelve school districts and county offices of education in northern California, one hundred fifty-three assisted teachers, and fifty-seven principals of assisted teachers were the research sample. Three questionnaires used in this study were developed by the researcher. Data were collected in the spring of 1985. Sixty-three percent of the mentor teachers, fifty-two percent of the assisted teachers, and seventy percent of the principals completed and returned the questionnaires. Findings. The profile developed from fifty-nine responding mentor teachers was that of a female elementary teacher in her 30's who has been teaching seventeen years, in her current district twelve years, in her current assignment seven years. She aspired to remain with classroom teaching. The selection process reported by the mentor teachers was within the parameters established in the legislation. The mentor teachers applied for the position to respond to a professional challenge. The mentor teachers determined their responsibilities which were primarily in staff development. Their preference for optimum utilization of the mentor teacher role was to increase the time spent in direct assistance to teachers. Released time from the classroom to fulfill mentor responsibilities was notably less than that allowed in the legislation. Mentor teachers expressed satisfaction with and a desire to continue in the role. Difficulties experienced by the mentor teacher in fulfilling their responsibilities related to peers, proteges, and time. In rating their perception of helpfulness in improving instructional quality, that of the principals had the highest mean rating, assisted teachers second, and mentor teachers third. Comparison of the results of this study with those of Far West Lab revealed similarities between expectations coordinators of mentor teachers reported to Far West Lab and experiences reported by respondents of this study. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

The relationship of the principal, resource teachers, and the bilingual bicultural program coordinator has to be organized in such a way that these individuals are able to effectively and efficiently implement a bilingual bicultural program. This can take place if the role groups have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. This lack of clearly defined roles may impede the progress of bilingual bicultural education. The problem of this study was to identify the role of the bilingual bicultural program coordinator.

The study explores the complexity of female literacy from the live experiences of women. The purpose of this qualitative research is to describe rural women's perceptions about literacy to assess how it impacts their lives. Female literacy is exceptionally low in Nepal. In spite of the efforts to raise women's educational status through literacy programs, women have rarely benefited from them. Most literacy programs are top-down, short-term, often organized by outside literacy providers, usually males. These programs are resource intensive, keeping their services from reaching a multitude of illiterates. In addition, the teaching methods, materials and program strategies used in most adult literacy programs hardly reflect, in particular, the interest, needs and concerns of women. Since there are few studies describing women's perceptions about literacy, we have little understanding of the complexity of female literacy. What did literacy mean to rural women? What did the women perceive as benefits from literacy? What types of literacy programs are beneficial to them? The study sheds light on these fundamental questions. Using the participants' observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, this study collected qualitative data from 150 hours of observation, 15 individual in-depths interviews and six focus group discussions with 48 rural women. The data was collected from twelve sites across the country over a period of two years. The study indicates that rural women need literacy skills for fulfilling their needs as expressed in social, cultural and economic practices. The need for literacy to actively participate in economic activities was, however, felt strongly by most of the rural women. Changes in women's lives were indicated by their increased knowledge, positive attitude and new behavior. Rural women's abilities to articulate their concerns, participate in decision-making, and to organize themselves for collective actions were some of the examples that entailed a change in their lives. Even for those who did not become fully literate, these experiences were empowering. The study also indicates that rural women benefited from literacy programs that focused on both functional and liberating elements.

A qualitative case study was conducted of Bethany College of the Assemblies of God in Scotts Valley, CA. A twofold purpose motivated this study: The first was to add to the understanding of the transformation processes of Christian higher education institutions, and the second was to develop a set of principles to be applied to the changing Christian institution by administrators and governing boards. From the study, which consisted primarily of document analysis and was supported by interview data, findings were reported and five major emergent themes were identified. These themes were: (a) The vital role of key leaders and the qualities they exhibited; (b) the importance of maintaining an unchanging core central mission; (c) the necessity of ongoing program expansion; (d) the environment or climate impacting change; and (e) the role of other key “players” in the growth and change process. Findings were discussed from the perspective of an administrator in Christian Higher Education.

While the process of changing educational systems is yet unclear, the relationship between teacher and learner places teachers at the focal point of change. The social/psychological organization of their workplaces known as staff culture is among the many issues effecting lasting reform. This study investigated the manner in which principals worked with this key variable in bringing about meaningful change. Students are not learning at the levels required to be productive citizens in the 21st century. In order to reverse this situation, most teachers need to change their manner of teaching. Despite years of reform efforts, many continue to resist change, particularly at the secondary level. This resistance is rooted in their professional norms, i.e., their education philosophy and beliefs. Most teacher have not been convinced of the need for change of their curriculum and instruction. Even though educational researchers find positive site culture to be key to reform of instruction, few school administrators have the understanding of site culture or training in interpersonal relation that is necessary to shape a culture which will accept and maintain change. A qualitative investigation was made of case studies of restructured high schools and interviews with principals who had brought about restructuring at their sites. Teachers were also surveyed. Data was gathered through content analysis of the studies, interviews and survey questionnaires in the areas of teacher attitudes, status of curriculum before and after the projects, and action of principals throughout the process of change. It was found that successful principals take action in common which fall into eight mutually exclusive categories. They also bring about change in a step by step priority process: (1) establish a clean campus and strong student discipline/attendance policies and develop University and business partnerships, (2) facilitate professional development opportunities for teachers through research based programs and provide them with human and material resources; focus on improving staff morale, (3) provide opportunities for collaboration, innovation and shared decision-making, (4) work to improve instruction. The information developed through this study can be used to guide and encourage school administrators in creating effective change in their schools.

Purpose. Teacher sense of efficacy refers to teachers' belief in their ability to motivate students to learn. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of selected personal characteristics, training variables, experience factors, school system variables, and principal leadership behaviors to the sense of efficacy of a group of teachers of LEP students. Procedures. A sample of 44 elementary school teachers of limited English proficient students was selected from school districts in Northern California with large numbers of LEP students. Questionnaire data were collected using an instrument with several scales. The measure of teacher efficacy used in this study was developed by Gibson and Dembo. Analysis of variance, t-tests, and Fisher's Least Significant Difference were used to test the hypotheses of this study. The antecedents of efficacy examined included selected personal characteristics of teachers, the perceived effectiveness of their university and district inservice training, experience in multicultural schools, and principal support of bilingual and instructional programs. Results. Several significant relationships were found. For example, the degree to which pre- and inservice training programs helped teachers develop proficiency in the student's primary language, knowledge of the home culture, and understanding the process of second language acquisition was clearly related to their sense of efficacy. The holding of credentials authorizing bilingual instruction and the size and type of district were found to be related to sense of efficacy. In addition, support of the instructional program by the site principal and his/her involvement in curriculum planning were related to teacher efficacy. Follow-up interviews found that teachers attributed their teaching success to informal meetings with their colleagues. Recommendations. Based on this study, quality university and district inservice training for bilingual teachers is suggested. This study highlights the need for principals to actively support their bilingual teachers by involving them in curricular decision making, planning, and encouraging informal group meetings. To increase bilingual teacher effectiveness, universities need to collaborate with local school districts in planning bilingual training programs.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether students in bilingual designated classes who received B/CC instruction by a teacher with a B/CC Specialist Credential have higher gains in reading and math when compared with students who received instruction by a teacher with a B/CC Certificate of Competence and a B/CC Waiver Certificate. This study measured bilingual instruction based on a statistical comparison between student achievement and the kind of bilingual certificate. Procedures. The data was collected from two school districts: Alum Rock Unified School District in San Jose California and Stockton Unified School District in Stockton, California. The population consisted of 600 students, 300 per district and 75 teachers, about 37 per district. A total of 286 students and 48 teachers were selected for this research. The 48 teachers were divided into three groups of 5 to a group: B/CC Specialist Credential, B/CC Certificate of Competence and B/CC Waiver Certificate. The students were also divided into three groups of 25 to 30 students in a group. The students were closely matched with the teacher groups on the basis of recorded test results on pre and post tests in reading and math for each grade level. A total of 9 groups of teachers and students comprised this research. A questionnaire was selected to collect information from the teacher group. The questionnaire asked for information regarding ethnic background, linguistic background, certification, number of years teaching bilingual education, location of training and certification, male or female, years in the present position, school district, grade level now teaching and the school at which presently teaching. The purpose for this questionnaire was for careful selection of teachers and matching of students to teachers. A locally devised test was used for student achievement results for Stockton Unified School District. The Language Arts Scope and Sequence (LASS) and the Math Scope and Sequence (MSS). The Metropolitan Achievement Test results were used for Alum Rock School District. Both tests were reviewed for reliability and validity. Analysis of Covariance, two way analysis of variance and one way analysis of variance were employed to determine significant difference between student achievement and the kind of B/CC teacher certification. The level of statistical significance adapted for this study was set at the .05 level. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UMI

Today's schools need to be restructured or redesigned to meet the needs of an ever-growing diverse student body. Global interdependence and competition have made this mandate necessary, and the business community has pressed for it as a result of entry-level workers failing to meet minimum standards. This reality, coupled with a greater number of students dropping out of school, spurs an imperative need to create some changes in our public schools. This study suggests that change cannot come with the same type of leadership that has been at the public education forefront. Schools can only develop new paradigms, systemic reform, and continuous improvement efforts when they are led by individuals who possess the skills, characteristics, understandings, and practices necessary to transform the existing system. This transformation can only come through transformational leaders. To institutionalize and sustain these changes, the key player is the superintendent, who must possess this knowledge and be the primary structure builder of transformational ideology throughout the organization. The purpose of this study was to identify transformational superintendents, and to study their leadership principles and practices, particularly toward a view of how these leaders create change in their organizations. Selected superintendents were identified through administration of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire created by Bass and Avolio (1997). Visits to districts were made, and data gathered through a number of means. The results identified thirteen transformational superintendent attributes; twelve beliefs; three perspectives on assessing organizational effectiveness, several key processes of communicating transformational ideology throughout an organization; seven aspects of creating change in existing school cultures; and five structures for creating systemic change and sustained continuous improvement. The findings indicated that transformational leaders do have a district-wide felt impact that results in positive leadership outcomes for the organization.