Five models of organizational decision-making are described, and a case study of the rational model as seen in the budget process at Stanford University during the 1970s is presented. Several issues are addressed to help administrators who are interested in increasing the organization's rational decision-making. The five models are as follows: the…

In this monograph, 13 authors offer their perspectives on the essential components of good schools. One interesting commonality is the tension expressed between institutional structure and personal values. Another issue that surfaces centers on the rising expectations of society for school achievement and the need for making learning more student…

Children spend more time in school than in any social institution outside the home. And schools probably exert more influence on children's development and life chances than any environment beyond the home and neighbourhood. The purpose of this book is to document some important ways schools influence children's development and to describe various…

School reform has taken many shapes over the years. Among the most pervasive of school-reform theories is school-based management (SBM), which is examined in detail in this book. The introductory chapter locates the current round of SBM in the longer cycle of educational reform, describes the extent of SBM activity over the past decade in the…

This monograph describes the system of higher education in the United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The preface points out that despite perestroika, two features of Soviet education persist, a high degree of unity and centralization and a close link between higher education and employers. Chapter 1, "Historical Overview," begins…

This book provides an account of the major administrative restructuring and organization that has occurred in Australian public school systems over the past decade. Section 1 provides a discussion of the Australian restructuring efforts in an international context. Chapters in this section include the following: (1) "The Restructuring of…

A survey of the educational policy and system of West Germany is presented. The federal government and 11 federal states (Laender) operate in conjunction, creating an educational policy that occurs on two levels. A brief historical sketch is followed by a general description of educational policy, planning, and research in the context of the…

Although it's true that effective school leaders focus on research, data, and statistics, the reality is that much of school leadership is also about how you handle personal relationships. That's why "The Art of School Leadership" is a must-read for any experienced or aspiring principal. Using concrete examples from his nearly 30 years of…

This book contains essays by those who have been profoundly influenced by John Goodlad's research and scholarship on educational change and school improvement. The volume features 20 articles: "On Inquiry and Education," K. Sirotnik; "Invigorating Elementary Schooling: Savoring a Long-Term Partnership," R. Anderson;…

This book brings together different analytical perspectives from organizational theory and applies them to examinations of schools. The editors maintain that the current debate over school restructuring is essentially a debate over which strategy of organizing will achieve the best results. Organizational theory suggests that there are two primary…

This book presents guidelines for implementing school-based management practices. Chapter 1 describes the growing interest in and rationale for school-based management (SBM). The second chapter discusses essential characteristics of good schools, and the third chapter describes 13 elements necessary for effective SBM. Pros and cons of SBM are…

The role of the superintendent in developing Catholic schools in the United States has received little attention. This book presents a historical overview of the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE). Following the foreword, dedication, introduction, and acknowledgments, part 1 traces the origins of the diocesan superintendency. Part 2…

One result of the extraordinarily rapid pace of educational reform in recent decades has been public expectation of greater accountability for the more than $300 billion spent annually on schools. As reformers have sought better ways to utilize all resources, including instructional time, block scheduling has been developed as a more efficient way…

The book covers 10 exemplary curriculum development sites, ranging from those that follow detailed state guidelines to those with few external mandates. All the examples are public schools, have been involved in the process of curriculum leadership for several years, and are geographically diverse. The book is organized around four questions: (1)…

The thirteen chapters of this book deal with the varied facets of supervision and give perspective on its history, organizational framework, strategies, models, and future prospects. Part 1 provides a brief historic sketch of supervision in the United States and then moves directly to the issue of evaluating and understanding teaching. The three…