America and the South seem to have turned a corner on the deep and prolonged recession that started in 2008. The stranglehold it has had on jobs and job prospects caught many by surprise, and it has caused education leaders to refocus state policy on the relationship between career preparation and education. This report provides updates on the…

States serve a special role in the nation's public education system. Through elected legislatures, states have endowed their various state departments of education with powers over public education, which include granting authority to local entities--typically school districts--to run schools. In their oversight capacity, states--traditionally…

A nationwide shortage of qualified, experienced applicants to fill the roles of educational leaders has led to a hiring crisis among school districts across America. The diminishing pool of applicants, accompanied by a high turnover rate of practicing administrators and increasing accountability demands, has revealed the importance of recruitment…

According to the U.S. Department of Education, shortages of special education and/or related services personnel continue to be a significant challenge for all states. In response to this challenge, state education agencies (SEAs) are implementing various strategies to improve recruitment and retention efforts. The purpose of this document is to…

Charter schools have been a mechanism of school reform for three decades (Finn, Manno, & Vanourek, 2000; Greene et al, 2010) and have received increased attention during the current Obama administration (Loveless, 2010). Studies on the effectiveness of charter schools demonstrate mixed results and that school quality varies dramatically, but…

The role of an elementary school principal is diverse, challenging, and highly specialized in both technical and interpersonal skills. The principal either makes the school an exciting, vibrant learning center, or a stagnant, regimented building; he or she is the measure of achievement or the cause of failure. The selection of this leader should…

New Orleans is looking for a few good teachers, principals and charter school operators. As state and local officials struggle to rebuild the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina 18 months ago, they are facing a severe shortage of talent willing and able to educate the fast-growing student population. The problem is especially stark in the schools…

For the past several years, researchers in the field of educational administration have predicted a future shortage of qualified school administrators. In this study questionnaires sent to all public elementary and secondary principals (N=195) in 5 Southwestern Louisiana parishes produced 127 responses, a 67 percent response rate. Questionnaires…

Describes Ku Klux Klan recruiting and literature dissemination activities in schools and communities and two particularly difficult conflicts caused by Klan activities in Meriden (Connecticut) and East Baton Rouge (Louisiana). Explains the legal issues involved and possible board and administrator responses to such activities and conflicts.…

The recruitment booklet is the result of team efforts of a committee to develop working materials which may be utilized for an adult education recruitment program in the local school systems. Each team member individually developed recruitment concepts, which were combined to form a guide. The report is divided into five parts: (1) a statement of…