Results of Ontario study to: determine if formal evaluation of principals occurs; assess the type of evaluation by examining process, presage and product (outcome) approaches; and outline extent of usage for each approach. Few school systems have defined the principal's function and obtained evidence of how well it is fulfilled. (NEC)

Superintendents need to recognize the two realities that the school board has the ultimate power and that superintendents are appointed to serve a specific term. Offers six remedies to superintendents in the case of real conflict with the school board. (MLF)

Although local community boards are not part of the governing structure of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), local boards help presidents respond to the unique needs of their communities. Describes the structure of VCCS, why college boards are important to VCCS, and the contributions of college board members. (VWC)

Describes qualities of a good preschool child-development program: Competent staff, parent partnerships, administrative support, and school board support. Provides list of online resources. (PKP)

Selecting a superintendent is one of the most critical decisions that a school board can make. Choosing an appropriate superintendent is fundamental for achieving the board's mission of the school corporation. This paper argues that boards need to address the question, Do we want a leader or an implementor? The paper describes various leadership…

The 1980s produced numerous reports regarding the principal's increased responsibility and critical role in both school effectiveness and school improvement. As the principal's responsibility has increased, so has pressure on school boards and superintendents to make appropriate appointments when principal vacancies occur. This paper seeks a…

Education law changes rapidly, making it difficult to understand and administer. Even when it is understood, school boards and administrators often must make legal decisions contrary to their own value systems. One way to lessen these conflicts is preventive law, the voluntary revision of school district policies and procedures to lessen or…

This bulletin explores the roles that various stakeholders have in systemic reform and offers some recommendations for action. Data were derived from a review of research on systemic education reform and interviews with four Oregon administrators. Chapter 1 provides a sampling of the diverse groups that are calling for reform and offers some of…

Schools which have successfully implemented mastery learning (ML) programs show many similarities in their plans for ML development. These similarities stand out so strongly that knowledge of them can help all schools in planning for ML. The following program commonalities observed during visits to several schools in New York, Washington,…

A brief discussion of the growing conflict between teachers, administrators, school board members, legislators, and citizen groups over who should have how much control over various aspects of education. (JG)

Declining school performance is commonly blamed on teachers, children, parents, or teaching techniques and materials. This volume ascribes the blame to the continued application of old techniques in the face of new circumstances; traditional authoritarian administration, suited to an earlier era, has not yet been replaced. Part I examines the…

With adequate preparation, effort, and commitment, the school system's collective bargaining process can become an opportunity for management and employee organizations to resolve significant concerns. This paper recommends nine steps for a pragmatic approach to negotiations. (1) Prepare: Preparation includes reviewing the current collective…

Chapter 4 of a volume on school leadership, this chapter is a revised version of the issue of "School Management Digest" entitled "School Based Management." It draws from the work of many authorities to define, explain, and make a case for school-based management, a system of educational administration in which the school is…

Using team management in school district administration requires compromises on the part of the board, the superintendent, and the other team members, but advantages can result. Better quality decisions, higher staff morale, greater support for decisions, and more efficient management are among the potential benefits. The first step in development…