The present study examined the implementation of a Washington state policy which requires that school administrators give their subordinates the opportunity to appraise their performance. The importance of this topic is suggested by research findings that indicate appraisals of principals by teachers yield information to assess and improve the administrative skills of principals. Research questions sought information on activities at the state level which served to promote implementation of the state policy. Other research questions sought information on the extent and impact of local school district policies and practices that were consistent with the state policy. The methodology for the study combined survey research and interviews. The interview methodology was used to collect qualitative information on the efforts of officials at the state level to promote local implementation of the state policy. Mailed surveys were used to collect data on the extent and impact of local school district policies and practices consistent with the state policy. The results of this study showed that none of the officials interviewed cited any activities at the state level, which promoted the implementation of the state policy. Results of the mailed surveys indicated that only 7% of local school districts had adopted policies on appraisal by subordinates that included the requirements of the state policy. Moreover, only 22% to 29% of school administrators were found to have complied with the requirements of the state policy by giving their subordinates the opportunity to appraise their performance. School personnel in a position to evaluate the effects of appraisal strategies reported that these strategies were beneficial for assessing administrator performance. Some school personnel also reported improvements in administrator performance and the school program, as a result of these appraisal activities. However, elements of the strategy described in state policy neither ensure changes in administrative behavior, nor protect subordinates against reprisals for making the appraisal.

This study examined what Washington high school principals perceive to be the most effective dropout prevention policies and programs. The population included all public high schools in the State of Washington. Five questions were posed: 1. (a) What preventative measures, intervention programs or student services designed to enhance environmental and personal factors are perceived to have reduced dropout rates? (b) Does the availability of those services and programs account for a significant difference in the actual dropout rates? 2. (a) What personal/psychological factors characterize potential dropouts? (b) Do these identifying characteristics account for a significant variance in the actual dropout rates? 3. (a) What environmental factors influence dropout rates in the schools? (b) Do these factors account for a significant variance in the actual dropout rates? 4. What intervention programs or student services are available in the sample? 5. What demographic factors in the sample schools significantly affect dropout rates? The study incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methodology. Ninety six questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 64 percent. The survey gathered information about each school's demographics, opinions about potential dropouts' identifying characteristics, opinions about the school environment availability of services and programs in each building and district, and which programs they felt to be the most effective, ranking the top ten from a list of twenty possible programs, policies, or services. Six schools were visited and their principals were interviewed to get additional information about their programs and effectiveness. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA, multiple regression, and paired comparisons. The policies, services, and programs felt to be most effective were: In-house progressive discipline, vocational programs, a written building attendance policy, out-of-building alternative programs, cooperative work programs, freshman bonding programs, small group advisories, in-building alternative programs, a written district attendance policy, a required life skills class, honors courses, and alcohol/drug-related programs. Available programs accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: Monetary incentives, child care facilities, English taught as a second language, honors courses, and parent effectiveness programs. Identified personal characteristics accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: Working full-time, low self-esteem, parents' background, low grades, teen pregnancy, and being of a racial minority. Environmental factors accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: High parent and community involvement with the school, self-esteem classes and small-group advisories, and the Excellence reform. Demographic factors accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: economic stability, gender of principal, and use of free school lunch. The research suggests that those programs and practices accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates should be examined for their interaction of involved factors. If the discussed personal and environmental factors are present, those effective interactive practices should be implemented in order to reduce dropout rates.

[pt] A adoção de políticas econômicas neoliberais de matriz americana,conjuntamente, pelos países latino-americanos, a partir da década de 80, passou a ser denominado de Consenso de Washington. A natureza de tamanha unanimidade, presente entre países de realidades econômica, social e política tão diversas foi motivo de questionamento por vários autores, tendo em vista a falta de originalidade do conteúdo dessas políticas econômicas. Defende-se, neste trabalho, a posição de que a grande novidade apresentada por este Consenso foi, justamente, a adoção conjunta de suas medidas e o discurso legitimador e universalizante que as promoveu, elementos atribuídos a uma revolução intelectual. É identificada, assim, a importância do papel das ideias enquanto influenciadoras das políticas governamentais. Papel este, que esta dissertação trata sob o arcabouço teórico de neogramscianos como Robert Cox e Stephen Gill, a partir da concepção desses autores de hegemonia, estabelecida por um país, numa sociedade civil global em formação, através das suas bases materiais e sociais, dentre estas, a ideologia. No caso brasileiro, um elemento especial é apresentado como facilitador da incorporação das diretrizes neoliberais hegemônicas, conformadoras do Consenso de Washington, no país: transnacionalização dos meios dirigentes em macroeconomia. O que esta dissertação objetiva demonstrar é que o trânsito dessa elite de economistas por organismos internacionais, notadamente norte-americanos, tende a aproximá-los de seus posicionamentos, além de conferir-lhes maior notoriedade. Esta notoriedade, por sua vez, aumenta as chances desses profissionais ocuparem cargos no governo. Uma vez ocupando esses cargos, maior a probabilidade de aplicarem as políticas econômicas importadas do país hegemônico, como aquelas reconhecias por caracterizarem o Consenso de Washington. / [en] The adoption of neoliberal economic policies of american patterns by latin-american countries in their entireness since the 80s has been called the Washington Consensus. The nature of such entirety among such different economic, social and political countries has been questioned by many authors as regards the lack of originality in these policies.The adoption of these policies by latin-american countries in their entireness and the universalizing and legitimating discourse that has promoted it, which has derived from an intelectual revolution, stand for the greater novelty of this Consensus.Thus, the ideas, in their influencing feature upon governmental policies, have been identified. This feature is here supported by neogramscians works as in Robert Coxs and Stephen Gills. Their hegemony conception is that one established by a country in a civil global society through its material and social bases, as for ideology.In Brazil, there is a special element which facilitates the incorporation of the neoliberal directions of the Washington Consensus: the transnationalization of the macroeconomy directing sectors. This work aims to demonstrate how this economists elite passage through international organisms, mainly north American, tends to draw them near to their positions as well as confer them greater evidence.This evidence, at its turn, enlarges the chances for these professionals to take offices. Once in office, the more probable it is for them to apply the economic policies, imported from the hegemonic country, as those known as the Washington Consensus ones.

In 1991 EPA embraced the watershed protection approach for environmental management. EPA defines watershed protection as â a strategy for effectively protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems and protecting human health.â To encourage statewide watershed protection, EPA developed the “Statewide Watershed Protection Approach” document, which is designed to aid states in developing their own watershed protection program. The watershed protection approach is not a program or policy required by EPA, rather a flexible framework that outlines the essential elements and components of a comprehensive statewide watershed protection approach. It allows for varying conditions in a state, but attempts to ensure a consistent general approach. This paper describes the elements and components of EPA’s comprehensive statewide watershed protection framework. It then analyzes Washington, Minnesota, and Oregon’s statewide watershed protection programs, and examines how these state approaches reflect EPA's framework. In addition, the paper analyzes a case study in each of these states to explore how these statewide watershed management approaches are implemented at the local level. By analyzing states that have successfully implemented a statewide watershed protection approach, this paper aims to identify the critical elements in a statewide watershed protection approach, and identify the issues that are critical to successful local implementation. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1984. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [318]-347.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-59).

Graduation date: 1985

Zugl.: Köln, Univ., Diss., 2005. - Zsfassung in engl. Sprache

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2007. / Title from file title page. Denise Davidson, committee chair; Maria Gindhart, Christine Skwiot, David McCreery, committee members. Electronic text (352 p. : ill. (some col.)) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Jan. 29, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-352).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed Aug. 18, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-135).