Adversarial board situations are draining. To succeed in the face of strained relations with the board, superintendents must preserve their inner strength and confidence, keep the whole board informed, involve the community in district activities, and provide joint training on maintaining an effective relationship. (MLH)

This article draws on a reanalysis of findings from two separate qualitative studies that examined a possible relationship between school board members' and curriculum directors' conceptions of power and the way they made decisions (Mountford, 2001; Ylimaki, 2001, respectively). The findings from both studies were then compared to the extant…

This article sets out to redress the disregard of a clause in the 1944 Education Act, the lack of interest in its one-off use and the 20 years of unique educational administrative history that resulted. The City of Peterborough Education Committee and the Soke of Peterborough Education Committee were compelled to become one authority charged with…

The historical and current balance among the federal, state, and local levels in the control of education is reviewed in this report, with a focus on effective schools research and the management of change. Five policy instruments are described, which include mandates, inducements, capacity-building, system-changing, and leadership. A conceptual…

Higher education in South Carolina was evaluated, with attention to college missions, financial resources for colleges, and the role of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The development of higher education during the last 30 years and the state's role in organizing and managing the higher education enterprise are described. The…

Public schools as formal organizations have broad-based goals, limited resources, and a formal hierarchy with which to manage the goal achievement process. The board of education combines this organization's economic and political dimensions to provide a thorough, efficient education for all children in the state. This paper investigates the…

This report by the National Association of State Boards of Education Capitol Study Group on School Leadership proposes changes in the principalship. States need to define the qualities effective principals according to a set of standards and require evaluation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions defined in the standards. Policymakers must make…

Zero-based budgeting was instituted in all Texas state-funded agencies in 1975-76, including colleges. The first two years of using this procedure are reviewed and its applicability to higher education institutions is examined in light of the need to consider educational quality as well as costs. (MSE)

A recent study of 20 English secondary schools suggested that many teachers had a limited understanding of their local education authorities' procedures for enforcing the school attendance policy. Teachers also didn't know how to apply for an Education Supervision Order. This article presents a framework that outlines the major elements of the…

A survey of 80 Nebraska superintendents found that "critical incidents" involving these superintendents and board members can irreparably damage professional relationships and lead to dismissals. Of the 12 categories of incidents, those related to board members' children, relatives, and friends formed the largest category, with role…

Constituents, seen as only average information sources, are the primary influence on both state and federal legislators. If principals worked with superintendents (as community leaders) and school board members (as highly regarded local officials), educator teams could significantly shape state and national educational policy. (MLH)

As state legislatures have become increasingly involved in establishing educational policy, state boards' authority has diminished. Presently, there are no clear demarcations between rule making and implementation. Most state boards handle administrative and regulatory tasks rather than policymaking. Cumbersome and expensive to operate, state…

The only states forbidden to charge school fees are Idaho and Florida. School boards' right to assess student fees is rooted in each state's constitution, statutes, and court decisions. Student fees violate our nation's ideal of free public education, which has helped advance democracy. A table shows state-by-state fee policy comparisons. (MLH)

Responses from 33 state education departments to a survey sent to all 50 state education departments about Total Quality Management (TQM) revealed that 22 departments were not currently considering TQM, 11 were considering it, but only 8 submitted designs. Advises school boards of steps to take to bring TQM to their schools. (MLF)

Local school board, epitome of representative U.S. governance, is undergoing profound changes as to vision, focus, service approach, and structure. Local school boards can spark development of educational programs to prepare youngsters for increasingly competitive, technological, and dangerous world. To achieve needed reforms requires federal and…