Principals serve as both instructional and administrative leaders in their schools. Their roles and responsibilities vary from managing school compliance issues to facilitating and assisting teachers with their instructional duties. In order to support principals in public schools, district leaders and others are working to build the kinds of…

This is an abridged, summary report of selected findings from "Pieces of the Puzzle: Factors in the Improvement of Urban School Districts on the National Assessment of Educational Progress"--a comprehensive study prepared by the Council of the Great City Schools in collaboration with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and with…

This report summarizes preliminary and exploratory research conducted by the Council of the Great City Schools and the American Institutes for Research on urban school systems participating in the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The study is one of the first large-scale analyses…

This report presents the fifth in a series of polls that ask leaders in major U.S. urban public school systems about challenges they face and expectations for the future. The polls survey board members, superintendents, and other leadership staff. In January 2002, surveys were mailed to Great City School district leaders and senior staff and board…

This report presents the fourth in a series of polls that survey the leadership of U.S. major public school systems about the challenges they face and their expectations for the future. The poll surveys school board members, superintendents, and other leadership staff, as well as representatives of colleges and universities who work with the staff…

The impact of changes in the 1994-95 reauthorization of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on the operations and effectiveness of Title I programs in the Great City Schools was studied through a survey of urban school districts. Responses were submitted by 34 school districts, representing approximately 23% of the Title I…

This report presents findings from a forum held in 2000 with urban educators representing 15 districts nationwide. The forum, which was facilitated by educational researchers from Columbia University's Teachers College, shared best practices for reforming high poverty urban high schools and reviewed the Department of Education's "Transforming…

This preliminary report marks the first step in the efforts of a task force formed by the Council of the Great City Schools to reduce the gaps in student achievement by race, income, language, and gender. The report is based on data from 48 major urban school districts. A mixed picture has emerged. Some districts are placing their primary focus on…

This monograph is the third in a series of polls of the leadership of America's major public school systems. In addition to surveying board members, superintendents, and other leadership staff, this poll also included urban mayors and representatives of colleges and universities who work with staff and students of the member cities of the Council…