quality; inservice training may be more effective and is less costly.
Cohn & Rossmiller (1987) consider methodological aspects of school-effectiveness
research, and conclude that
Although all the school-effectiveness research is based on imperfect
methodologies and data, the vast experience gained from research in both
developed and less developed countries (LDCs) provides a few guidelines
for educational policy in the developing countries. (p 378)
They argue that although there are differences between developed countries and LDCs,
there are also great similarities in the determinants of academic performance. They draw
the following implications for educational policy in LDCs:
Money is necessary but not a sufficient requisite to more effective
schools....The research provides no definitive answer to the question of at
what level of spending do marginal returns turn down....It is evident that
adequate facilities, equipment, books and other instructional materials are
necessary if a school is to be effective, but it is also evident that facilities
and materials alone will not insure effectiveness if those who teach in
them are not competent or if their decision making is unduly constrained.
Conversely, highly competent teachers will find it difficult to teach
effectively in inadequate facilities or if they are lacking the necessary
instructional materials. The research provides no basis for concluding that
LDCs should reduce their level of expenditure for education or be
unconcerned about educational facilities. The findings do suggest that....
attention must increasingly be directed to how resources are used in the
educational process. (pp 393-394)
Cohn & Rossmiller also discuss organisational factors:
The research on effective schools also draws attention to the importance of
the decision-making process within the school....It is important that
national/state policies concerning education establish appropriate
parameters for school and classroom decisions but also that they provide
sufficient leeway for those decisions that can best be made at the school
and the classroom level....The research on effective schools highlights the
limitations of a top-down strategy to change schools and classrooms...The
research on effective schools emphasizes the importance of the decisions
made by school principals and teachers (about how to use the available
resources)....It is necessary to attract competent individuals to careers in
teaching, provide them with appropriate training to develop their