Special education is the most highly litigated area within the field of education. Therefore, the purpose of the current article is to highlight cases (court decisions, Office of Civil Rights rulings, and State Educational Agency hearings) involving students with disabilities in 2015. Highlights from the case law point to the need for school…

Outlines the duties of English department heads and what their areas of expertise ought to be. (Author/JM)

School administrators can work to develop leadership competencies in department heads, including the ability to encourage and assist fellow teachers. Suggestions for further reading are offered. (MJL)

Describes a way one principal involved teachers in the selection of a department head, by the appointment of a selection committee. (JM)

Presents a plan that extends current teaching practices through a strategy that increases teacher salaries without the use of merit pay. (MD)

De-departmentalizing the high school into smaller integrated quads would make possible the necessary frequent review and revision of the curriculum and facilitate change with greater ease. Inflexibility could give way to creativity and provide a humanistic environment to meet the needs of adolescents. (Author)

Recent research shows that the department-head position represents an underutilized source of instructional leadership in secondary schools. To increase department-head participation, principals are advised to heed school tradition, follow employment policy guidelines, determine boundaries, consult involved staff, prepare job descriptions, provide…

Four specific areas of activity are necessary for school guidance leadership: program development, communications, organization and coordination, and supervision and evaluation. These areas are discussed and a sample job description for the guidance director is presented. (Author/WD)

Based on a study of change facilitation in eight high schools, this article debunks three common myths concerning administrative organization as an obstacle to managing high school change. Tentative guidelines are provided to help determined managers cure stagnation and thwart bureaucratic intransigency. (MLH)

Discusses the process of writing as a way of learning and "Writing across the Curriculum Programs." Outlines the program developed at Williamson High School in Alabama that successfully trained the English department to serve as consultants to the school in developing such a program. Includes two figures and references. (MD)

Reviews the current (1987) certification requirements for principals in the 50 states. Speculates about future changes. Includes four tables. (Author/MD)

Coaching occurs in many fields, including music, drama, and various sports activities. Building a "coaching" metaphor might help clarify differences in coaching roles that principals and teachers find confusing. Most head coaches recognize that responsible evaluation is more helpful than absolute power in helping each player be the best…

Presents a proposal for effective teacher supervision and evaluation that puts the responsibility for supervision on someone close to the teachers, while the responsibility for evaluation remains the principal's. Includes diagrams outlining supervision and evaluation procedures. (MD)

In New York City, the assistant principal for supervision is responsible for staff development and improvement of student outcomes in specific subject areas. High schools have four to eight such positions. These administrators teach one to three classes daily, depending on department size. They train teachers, develop curricula and testing…

Outlines Connecticut State Department of Education's generic criteria (adapted to art teaching) for effective classroom management, instruction, and assessment. The only certain way for principals to select effective art teachers is to learn enough about art and art education to feel comfortable when reviewing applications and interviewing…