Contributing factors to the development of liability-type relationships are discussed, along with practical suggestions for restructuring the role of the research administrator. An agenda for further conceptualization and research is included. (Author/MLW)

This document reports on a study undertaken to identify specific behaviors of secondary school principals that are effective or ineffective in promoting positive school characteristics. The researchers first searched the literature to find an organizational model that would take into account the organization's goals, the means for measuring…

Presents a conceptual model of educational leadership that is based on the dimensions of leading groups (including purpose and direction, educational problems, management of events, and standards) and on the dynamics of group interaction. (JW)

A study based on a model developed by Henry Mintzberg examined the internal and external managerial roles of 126 New England college and university library directors. Survey results indicate that the 97 responding directors were primarily involved with internal managerial roles and work contacts. (CDD)

To explore the principal's role as instructional leader in school improvement strategies, this research brief focuses on characteristics of effective schools, a profile of effective principals, and a discussion with Dr. Steven Bossert, Associate Laboratory Director for Research and Development at Far West Laboratory in San Francisco, California,…

Resource mechanisms that coordinate school systems are loosely structured. Three resources are examined for effects on teaching and learning reading in the first grade: time allocation, curricular materials, and array of students in schools and classrooms. Administrative decisions on resource allocation constrain teachers' use of resources, which…

Describes a databased taxonomy of behaviors that elementary and secondary school teachers use to cope with both internally and externally derived work stress, considers the effectiveness of such behaviors, discusses methods for preparing teachers for working conditions, and points out the value of the taxonomy for future research. (PGD)

As part of the Study of Dissemination Efforts Supporting School Improvement, researchers looked at how the activities of, perceptions of, and opinions about the building administrator affect the outcome of efforts to implement new practices. This paper describes a sample of building administrators working in the 146 school districts that…

This report describes efforts to test a model of leadership effectiveness that centers on "macro variables" and "discretionary leadership." Macro variables were represented by the complexity of the environment, context, and structure of a unit. Discretionary leadership was defined as influence over and above that typically…

This information analysis paper examines (1) the characteristics associated with effective change facilitators and (2) the concept of "style" and its value in describing and understanding leadership performance and the role of change facilitators in particular. Three bodies of literature are highlighted and summarized in pursuit of…

Sixty-nine Israeli school principals completed questionnaires designed to reveal the factors contributing to the leadership styles they used when initiating curricular changes. The principals fell into three leadership categories: "Initiators," who seek change in accordance with long range policies and goals; "Responders," who…

Examines why an elementary school, set up as a model school promoting learning effectiveness, was not working as predicted. Concentrates on staff assessments of principal's role. (JW)

This report consists of two main sections. The first presents a theory about how supervisors decide on the causes of a subordinate's poor performance and what they do about it. A two-stage process is suggested. The first stage involves the supervisor making attributions about the causes of the poor performance. This stage requires processing an…

The three diagnostic dimensions of the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) are tools that can evaluate the degree of new program implementation at the classroom level. Implementation success is a function of use/nonuse, appropriate/inappropriate practice, and user concerns about the innovation. These dimensions: Levels of Use (LoU) of the…

Findings of this study of the managerial behavior of special education principals are compared with findings of other studies of managerial behavior of elementary and secondary principals. Mintzberg's theoretical model of administrative behavior (1973) was applied to special education principals. Five structured observations were conducted with…