"When you need to innovate, you need collaboration" (Racher, 2017, web-blog). In an ever-changing time in education, when critics are in full force, when there continue to be teacher shortages and competition for teacher candidates, the time comes for both school districts and universities to decide to be intentionally innovative and…

This paper presents an array of structural configurations that invite new consideration of the necessary conditions for developing systemic school reform; first by reviewing the current literature, and then by examining thirty-six existing partnerships as structural configurations, an exploratory typology for the analysis of successful…

This multi-site qualitative study examined the perspectives of K-12 superintendents and principals in four districts of a Southeastern state during the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system required by the Race to the Top federal grant. Specifically, these educators' viewpoints regarding this two-year implementation's impact are…

This article describes the Principal Corps initiative at the University of Mississippi, its context as a reaction and hopeful solution to public criticism, such as Levine's, of school leadership and school leadership programs. The Principal Corps is the result of a redesign; this holistic redesign is research-based and uses multiple delivery…

Investigates the organizational factors and individual characteristics associated with school districts that develop and maintain exemplary collegial and collaborative relationships among elementary school principals. Discusses four salient themes associated with collegial and collaborative relationships among principals: formal organizational…

Survey of 36 United States educational leadership program efforts to create collaborative communities for part-time students. Finds, for example, that majority of programs use course sequencing and cohort grouping to create collaborative communities for part-time students. (Contains 40 references.) (PKP)

This article presents a case study of successful curricular and instructional innovation in Thailand. The innovation involved a curricular program, Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This student-centered curriculum models many of the features highlighted in Thailand's educational reform such as the student-centered learning approach, curriculum…

Defines the concept of the synergistic model of organizational structure. The primary components of the model are cooperative action and job integration, which have as a direct result the increased energy in staff members using the model. (MD)

The five key elements comprising any school organization may be described as structural, professional, renewal-oriented, curricular, and collaborative. School leaders committed to change must recognize three realities: (1) change is hard, even painful work; (2) the parts cannot be treated without treating the whole; and (3) reform starts at the…

Studies one school's experience as a learning community. Discusses seven themes found to be associated with the school's learning-community experience: Leadership, responsible decision-making, systematic staff development, site-based management, collaboration, and common focus. Draws implications for research and practice. (Contains 20…

Using a case study format, this paper describes the development, implementation, and results of a public postsecondary institution's state legislative relations plan. A model for institutional planning for state legislative relations is proposed. Planning should be a year-round process and have explicit assessment, evaluation, and feedback…

The rising demand for administrative staff development is largely a product of external forces (political demands for reform). Many superintendents are exploring alternatives to meet the requirements of employee improvement. This article describes the efforts of three superintendents and a university professor to develop a meaningful database for…

Based on a questionnaire survey of 38 elementary-secondary and postsecondary lobbyists and 22 legislators conducted by the authors in Minnesota in 1978-80, this article examines the effectiveness of two fundamental lobbying strategies--cooperative strategy and advocacy strategy--in educational lobbyists' efforts to influence legislators. (JBM)

Outlines a proactive school organization model useful for special need populations (handicapped, and linguistically and culturally different learners) because it enables all participants to collaborate on a systematic, four-phase change process: data collection, needs assessment, development of interventions, and evaluation of outcomes. The focus…

Evolution of one New York City school's assessment practices has proceeded on two fronts: development of individual teachers' classroom practices (recordkeeping, documentation, and evaluation); and development of schoolwide practices bringing staff together around critical questions of standards, curriculum, and school life. Parents have also…