Teacher absenteeism is of concern in today's developing educational climate. In South Africa, where education itself is a contested terrain, and decades of disadvantage still impact resources and skills, despite democracy, it is a compelling challenge. This paper, based on a study of how independent primary schools in Gauteng, South Africa, manage…

Discussions about human capital and school improvement typically center on teachers, not administrators, and that's a mistake. Principals, who are responsible for selecting and developing the teachers they know are so important, are a critical driver of school success. So it is imperative that states do everything they can to find, deploy, and…

Nine steps to improving the climate of a school are (1) staff as role models, (2) highly visible principal, (3) planning, (4) ongoing assessment, (5) rewards and incentives, (6) clearly defined policy, (7) individualized instruction and high expectations, (8) balanced curriculum, and (9) parental involvement. (SK)