Case Studies in Educational Performance Contracting

Describes Westinghouse Learning Corporation's (WLC's) work during 1970-1971 at Eliot School in Gilroy, a small district with limited resources. WLC contracted to improve the reading and mathematics of all Title I 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders in a predominantly Spanish-speaking population where 70 percent of all students were below grade level. Gilroy teachers implemented the program, using self-instructional materials and performance rewards. Paraprofessional aides were used in the instructional and reinforcement centers. Problems arose because WLC was not prepared for the very low entering levels, lacked extra personnel to get the program under way, and was late in relating to the teachers who taught all the other subjects. Measured results disapppointed WLC, but exceeded those of the other Title I programs aimed at the same population. WLC has given up performance contracting, but the school's regular teachers propose to run a similar reading resources center next year. The Gilroy-WLC contract is appended.