The role of the principal is rapidly changing. Once seen as building managers tasked with bus schedules and student discipline, principals now lead a range of school-level reform efforts. But not all principals are equipped to lead dramatic student achievement gains or know which actions to prioritize. Research on school leaders in urban areas…

The long history of volunteerism in America has its roots in colonial religious and educational enterprises. From the beginning, colleges and universities have been independently governed rather than subject to national or state control. This autonomy is a uniquely American tradition. Over the centuries, the work of academic governing…

Principals are critical to the success of any school improvement effort--from increasing academic rigor toward college- and career-ready standards to teacher evaluation and support. They ensure this success by building a strong, shared vision and leading effective implementation for staff, students, and families. The federal government has an…

This revised edition updates Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges' (AGB's) list of governing board responsibilities, emphasizing board accountability, academic quality and board member conduct. Especially useful in the formal orientation process for new board members, and as a refresher for returning board members. A list…

This paper is written from the perspective of an Anglican head teacher in the context of UK public educational policy in which managerialism is construed as the prevalent orthodoxy of reform. It seeks to bring the discipline of theology and the field of school leadership studies into closer dialogue around the theme of managerialism in a way that…

Offered as a contribution to developing better trustees, this collection of essays represents a variety of viewpoints on the nature and extent of trustee services. The following articles are included: (1) "The Illinois Public Community College Board Members," by Gary Frank Petty and William E. Piland; (2) "Active Trusteeship for a Changing Era,"…

The professional preparation received by school administrators in developed countries is not necessarily appropriate for administrators in developing areas. There is little disagreement over the need for specialized training for these administrators, but decisions remain to be made concerning the types of training to be selected and the delivery…

In the face of declining enrollments, many Iowa rural school districts have begun sharing superintendents. In 1988-89, 88 districts shared 44 superintendents; 42 of these participated in structured interviews for this study. All participants were male. Interviewees indicated that most school boards had undertaken the new arrangement because the…

A revolution in education will require unusually competent, skilled, visionary leadership. This report examines the quality of educational leadership in the United States, focusing on the roles of principals and superintendents. According to recent research, the educational administration field lacks: (1) a definition of good educational…

Numerous 1983-84 educational improvement studies emphasized the need for strong principal leadership, yet present reform efforts fail to address adequately principal preparation. This proposal for administrative excellence has a four-category focus: recruitment of those with strong liberal arts degrees; selection of those committed to an 11-month…

School administrators need to study and analyze the pros and cons of issues before making decisions. Ultimately, decisions need to be made by administrators as to which philosophies of education to implement in resolving conflicting points of view. More research studies would lead to an increased number of syntheses of the pros and cons of certain…

Tightened budgets and more decentralized governance of education demand greater effectiveness of state boards of education, departments of education, and chief state school officers, and offer them new opportunities for leadership. State boards have broad authority to make policy, though their significance is often underestimated. Researchers…

Intended as a guide and reference for persons involved in local administration of the Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) Indian Education program, the handbook contains basic information about the program and the roles and responsibilities of school administrators, JOM personnel, and local and state Indian Education Committees (IECs). Beginning with a history…

Given the moral nature of public schools and the numerous moral dilemmas faced by school administrators, training in ethics should be included in administrator preparation curricula. After discussing the public school as a moral institution, this document explains normative ethics and outlines the differences between moral and nonmoral judgments.…

This manual provides information on trustees' roles, responsibilities, and relationships with other agencies in the state. Following a foreword and introduction, a historical overview is provided of the North Carolina Community College System, including a description of the system's guiding philosophy of total education, mission statement,…