Education leaders play a fundamental role in shaping curricular expectations and students' access to books, write education professors Daniel Liou and Kelly Deits Cutler. But it's not easy to know how to respond when leaders are under intense political pressure to pull a book (or topic) from the proverbial shelves. Liou and Deits Cutler share five…

A Midwest superintendent describes some painful on-the-job experiences. To regain community acceptance and support, educators must understand and respect community history, apply classroom-inspired lessons to relationships with parents, involve the community meaningfully, recognize the failings of New Age terminology, understand families'…

The past superintendent of the Toledo (Ohio) public schools explains how a community survey was used to set school priorities and develop curriculum in a way that significantly increased school support. (JM)

Discusses how to make sure a school is teaching the things the community, staff, and students believe are important. Explains how (and how not) to conduct a survey about what the schools should be teaching. (JM)