Referencing the Resource Standards, the 2001 MSIP Standards and Indicators Manual stated, “In general, the Resource Standards are concerned with the basic requirements that all districts must meet. They are generally quantitative in nature. Some standards are appropriate for all districts. Other standards need to be tailored for districts in different contextual settings. Dual criteria are used comparing the district with “minimums” determined by the State and what is deemed “desirable” as determined by research and/or professional judgment” (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2001, p. 4).
Class size, enrollment numbers, programs of study, certification, support and administrative staff and teacher planning time
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• Isolated instruction-free time for teachers-currently many teachers have short periods of instruction free time without benefit of peer consultation.
• Formula-driven student assignment - age grades, tracking, etc.
• Fragmented high school schedules- 45-50 minute periods, one subject specialization.
• High schools that are too large - Over 2000 students in many high schools; 800 students is identified as optimum.
• Inflexible teacher workday and job definition- 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 50 minute periods, or Reading at 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (Miles & Hammond, 1998, p. 16)
Miles and Hammond acknowledged desirable reforms as objectives focused on increasing student achievement by developing a new curriculum composed of new standards, positive teacher-student relationships and increased planning time for teachers. Strategies employed by schools found to curb resource allocation issues were addressed in the study under the following six principals:
• Reduction of specialized programs to provide more individual time for all in heterogeneous groups;
• More flexible student grouping;
• Structures that create more personalized