Although central office supervisors are emerging as critical linchpins of school improvement efforts, research is quite limited in this area. This study differs from previous efforts by focusing on the administrator's real world and identifying the subjective role conceptions and statements shared by four outstanding central office supervisors. It…

Curriculum alignment (CA) refers to the congruence of all the elements of a school's curriculum: curriculum goals; instructional program--what is taught and the materials used; and tests used to judge outcomes. CA can be a very powerful can be a very powerful factor in improving schools. Although further research is needed on CA, there is…

Recently, the traditional school structure has been harshly scrutinized for several key defects, including bureaucratic rules and regulations, professional isolation of teaching staff, evaluation systems irrelevant to instructional improvement, low teacher participation in decision making, and noncooperation between teachers and administrators.…

The effectiveness of strategies employed by colleges and universities to reverse a trend of declining enrollment was studied. A comparison was undertaken of 59 institutions that were successful (S) and 54 institutions that were unsuccessful (U) in reversing enrollment decline. In addition to questionnaire response data, extensive demographic data…

According to recent research findings, school principals are the motivating agents in schools where effective learning takes place. Recognizing the importance of school principals, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conference participants viewed a role delineation for principals and a restructuring of school organization as necessary to…

An overview is presented of school effectiveness research which has identified characteristics of academically successful schools. The research reviewed has reexamined such things as the way educators manage time, assign students, define curriculum, determine class size, organize schools, and assess achievement. This report focuses upon three…

During the summer of 1983, a team from Mankato State University, Minnesota, surveyed 65 community residents, 85 school staff and board members, and 337 grade 6-12 students to measure attitudes toward the effectiveness of the pairing of the Russell and Tyler (Minnesota) school districts which occurred at the beginning of the 1981-82 school year.…

A test of the effects of school organization, the school environment, and the larger community context on school attendance showed that environmental and contextual factors have the strongest impact. Using a model based on organizational theory, researchers hypothesized that, within the community context, environmental factors would affect school…

Effective schools must have effective leaders. Such leaders are those who can create and implement a vision of the school's culture that contains within it the values on which excellence is built. (BJV)

Illustrates some of the various ways principals may shape and change their school cultures. These cultures are composed of the shared norms, values, beliefs, and assumptions about the world of work that shape how people think, feel, and act. (BJV)

Summarizes recent scholarship on superintendents and classroom learning. Concludes that central-office involvement is infrequent but probably necessary for widespread school improvement. Proposes guidelines for future research. (BJV)

The reforms that are most consistent with current arrangements for school governance and administration are unlikely to foster the organizational and professional climates most conducive to student achievement. But the kinds of reforms that might engender better school conditions are inconsistent with existing controls and are, therefore, unlikely…

It has become more and more common to read and hear that the essential factor underlying effective schools is an ethos or culture of excellence and that effective school leaders are culture builders. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain administrators' views of their schools' climate. The second purpose was to examine imperative skills…

Extols the virtues of a year-round school schedule and identifies several schools where this practice has contributed to the success of the music program. Briefly discusses such key factors as staffing, budget, curriculum, logical sequence of instruction, and performance scheduling. Includes an example of a year-round schedule. (MJP)

It has long been assumed that schools which were "effective" with respect to one set of outcomes (usually academic performance) were generally more "effective" in relation to others. This article reviews the last three decades of British evidence across a range of affective, social and other non-cognitive outcomes including:…