ANNOTATED 120 1. TEXARKANA The first performance contract, in Texarkana in 1969-70, set the pattern for most subsequent performance contracts. Charles Blaschke and Leon Lessinger, who were instrumental in establishing the Texarkana project, have become central figures in the performance contract and accountability movements. Anyone thinking about implementing a performance contract should review the Texarkana experience: The contract document itself, and several related documents, may be found in any of the following: Leon Lessinger. Every Kid a Winner-Accountability in Ed- Polly Carpenter, A. W. Chalfant, and George R. Hall. Case Education Turnkey Systems. Performance Contracting in The Rand Corporation study (above) is the best retrospective Stanley Elam. "The Age of Accountability Dawns in Tex- "Performance Contracting." Educate, October 1970. pp. 15-27. Elam's perception of the Texarkana project is cautiously optimistic, while Bumstead probed deftly into some of the project's weaknesses and difficulties. The official version of the project was recorded in D. C. Andrew and L. H. Roberts. Final Evaluation on the II. BLASCHKE AND LESSINGER Leon Lessinger and Charles Blaschke have devoted more attention to the procedures and implications of performance contracting than have any other writers. After he designed the Texarkana project, Blaschke in 1969 ormed Education Turnkey Systems, Inc., a management support group that not only produced a book (see above) but also an invaluable newsletter: Education Turnkey News. Washington, D.C.: Education Turnkey Systems, April 1970-March 1971. Since October 1971 a monthly column entitled "Performance Contracting" has appeared in Nation's Schools. these publications one finds not only a contemporary history Charles Blaschke. "From Gold Stars to Green Stamps." "Performance Contracts." Planned Change in Education. (Edited by David S. Bushnell and Donald Rappapert.) New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1971. pp. 127-41. Performance Contracting: Who Profits Most? Bloomington, Ind.: Phi Delta, Kappa, 1972. his writings, former Associate Commissioner of Education Leon Lessinger has emphasized the accountability implications of performance contracting. His book, Every Kid a Winner above), stressed Texarkana and performance contracting. Two of his later books de-emphasize Texarkana and performance Contracting: Leon Lessinger and Ralph W. Tyler. Accountability in Education. Worthington, Ohio: Charles A. Jones, 1971. Leon Lessinger, Dale Parnell, and Roger Kaufman. Ac- Lessinger has published more than a dozen articles. Here are "The Powerful Notion of Accountability in Education. Journal of Secondary Education, December 1970. pp. 339-47. "Engineering Accountability for Results in Public Education." Phi Delta Kappan, December 1970. pp. 217-25. (Reprinted in Accountability in Education above.) essinger was special issue editor of the January 1971 tional Technology, which featured several theoretical and cal discussions of the how and why of performance contracts. 121 122 III. BANNEKER During 1970-71, the nation's most publicized and controversi performance contract was negotiated for the Banneker Elementa School in Gary, Indiana, where a private corporation contracted operate an entire public school for four years. Most all of the co flicts that might erupt during a performance contract have occurre at Banneker. The history of Banneker will be instructive for anyor wishing to consider entering a performance contract: The contract document itself, several related documents, an the most comprehensive history of the first year at Bannek are found in George R. Hall and M. L. Rapp. Case Studies in Educatio al Performance Contracting, # 4. Santa Monica, Calif.: Rar Corporation, 1971. Historical perspective on the project can be found in James A. Mecklenburger and John A. Wilson. "The Pe Betty Miles. "Banneker at the Half-Way Mark." Scholast Positive, skeptical, and negative descriptions of the proje Jack Star. "We'll Educate Your Kids-Or Your Mone Bel Kaufman. "Will This Boy's Curriculum Manager D The American Teacher. "The Banneker School Boondo gle" and "Performance Contracting Revisited." The Ame ican Teacher, January 1972. pp. 15-16. A film, Readin', Ritin', 'Rithmetic, Inc., produced for NET's Blac Journal early in the winter of 1972, is available from several fil libraries. It emphasizes the conflict surrounding the project IV. GRAND RAPIDS From the perspective of the school system's administration, th most successful performance contract site in the early experime tation was probably Grand Rapids, Michigan, where three com panies held contracts during 1970-71. There was little conflict controversy, results proved satisfactory, and the three companie renewed and expanded their contracts in 1971-72. Contract documents and a comprehensive history of 1970-7 are to be found in G. C. Sumner. Case Studies in Educational Performand Contracting, #6. Santa Monica, Calif.: Rand Corporation, The flavor and implications of the Grand Rapids contracts are James A. Mecklenburger and John A. Wilson. "The Per- Bernard Asbell. "Should Private Enterprise Direct Your V. THE OEO EXPERIMENT During 1970-71, the Office of Economic Opportunity sponsored a nationwide experiment involving 6 private corporations, 18 school districts, and more than 20,000 students. Negative results were announced in January 1972. Available information on this experiment is somewhat skewed by OEO's reluctance to allow publicity. The little that was published usually bore OEO's seal of approval. The official reports are available from the Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, D.C. In addition there are the following: Some OEO-approved descriptions Jeffry Schiller. "Performance Contracting: Some Questions Betty Murphy. "Peformance Contracting: Where Teaching Some less rosy descriptions Suzanne S. Taylor. "Performance Contracting-One Expe- Kathy Donahue. "Performance Contracting in the Bronx James A. Mecklenburger and Donald M. Goldenbaum. Washington Education. "Performance Contracting Comes 12 |