Twice-exceptional students require services that identify and serve their academic and social-emotional concerns; teacher understanding of these needs is not well-studied. Using Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and social cognitive theory, a descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to explore middle school teachers' self-efficacy beliefs…

Educators participate in extensive preparation for the role of principal, including teaching and principal licensure. Nevertheless, educators may find a lack of a global framework for the principalship leading to both job dissatisfaction and early exit, as pre-role conceptualizations rely heavily on anecdotal knowledge from supervisors and peers.…

Those closest to students have the greatest impact on their success. Given this belief, Louisiana has focused its efforts to support and empower principals in their role as school leaders. Successful principals reflect and plan, using data throughout the year to set goals and improve instruction. The Department helps principals develop their…

Teacher and student sorting within and between schools has historically garnered national attention and controversy. Scholars have recently examined how school leaders make data-driven decisions to create more equitable schools, particularly through teacher and student assignment practices. School leaders use student test scores to strategically…

Principals historically have needed to adapt to dramatic shifts that impact their schools, including significant policy changes at the state and federal levels. For example, the 2008 study recorded principals' reactions to No Child Left Behind (NCLB), signed into law in early 2002. NCLB substantially altered the landscape of education across the…

This article explores how place matters in public school reform efforts intended to promote more equitable opportunities and outcomes. Qualitative case studies of three California middle schools' eighth grade math reforms and the resulting opportunities for Latino English learners are presented, using the conceptual frameworks of critical human…

This playbook draws from the findings of "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades," the largest empirical study of this grade level conducted to date. The "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades" study was designed to find out what higher-performing schools do differently. The result is a compelling set of specific, actionable…

Four secondary schools engaged in a program of individualized schooling were selected for this longitudinal study based on theories of decision-making, leadership, and job satisfaction. Researchers examined the relationship between staff job satisfaction on the one hand and the amount of decision-making and the staff's perceptions of principal…

Describes the success of an experienced middle school teacher in balancing her professional and personal values with organizational obligations and responsibilites to students. Encourages administrators to support teachers in the construction, evaluation, and revision of the classroom curriculum and to provide more collegial exchange opportunities…

The 1998 study of the K-8 principal shows that the principal's role, revolving about staff supervision, student discipline, marketing, and community/political interactions, has become increasingly diverse and complex. The 42% turnover rate will probably continue into the next decade. Today, 42% of K-8 principals are women, compared to 20% in 1988.…

Describes how one middle school implemented shared decision making successfully. Presents questions that staff asked themselves, including how stakeholders' interests are represented, the type of communication network to use, changes in teachers' and principal's roles, keeping the focus on student learning, the type of staff developments needed,…