For veteran principals, new principals, and aspiring principals, this book is a valuable resource for building instructional momentum during the beginning of the school year. Educational leadership expert Shawn Joseph guides administrators through five key areas: (1) Vision; (2) Instructional Leadership; (3) Politics; (4) Data; and (5) Planning.

Each and every day, educators collect and use data about students, staff, and schools. Some of these data originate in individual student and staff records that are confidential or otherwise sensitive. And even those data that are a matter of public record, such as aggregate school enrollment, need to be accessed, presented, and used in an…

The loss of full-time tenure faculty positions along with the overuse and financial exploitation of contingent faculty (part-time, full-time nontenure track and graduate employees) are roiling higher education around the country. This is called the academic staffing crisis. Many are undoubtedly working through the bargaining process to improve the…

The 2009 Nevada Legislature approved Senate Bill 317 (SB 317) requiring that Nevada's public high schools, including charter schools, provide instruction in financial literacy. In an effort to assist school districts with implementation of instruction in financial literacy, the Nevada Department of Education assembled a task force (Financial…

A decade ago, before the tech boom collapsed and the digital economy bubble burst, it seemed to some that issues surrounding information technology (IT) might be central to the politics of the early 21st century. But after September 11, 2001, with so much else on everyone's minds, "digital politics" seemed a boring sideshow. Technocrats,…

Describes how a group of teachers, librarians, and other citizens, concerned about attacks on curriculum and public education itself, formed a grass-roots group called Michigan for Public Education to advocate educational equality and excellence. Describes how they got started, why people got involved, and what they have learned. Offers…

Describes how a journalism instructor/newspaper advisor and her students fought a proposal (part of massive course cuts) to cancel a national-award-winning journalism program. Notes early warning signs, and suggests preventive measures to preserve programs. (SR)

Describes a statewide initiative in Missouri to develop and promote the Advanced Placement program, including establishing AP Teacher Development sites, and statewide encouragement and coordination of the program. Notes that this has resulted in a major turnaround in the AP program in Missouri. (SR)

Presents the positive benefits to be gained from diversifying the public school system and allowing a wider choice in school selection. Outlines the problems that would ensue from establishing an educational voucher system. Choice enhances teacher quality, student achievement, parent involvement, and public confidence in schools. (MD)

Describes how the English department at Willamette University set out to revise the English curriculum as a participant in the MLA-FIPSE English Programs Curriculum Review Project. Shows how the faculty redesigned the curriculum, and shares three important ideas that might be useful to other departments undertaking similar changes. (HB)

An initiative petition passed in 1982 for a 1-cent sales tax accounted for between 13 and 15 percent of the total public school budget in Missouri as of the 1991-92 school year. Outlines the steps necessary to gather the necessary signatures from registered voters and to get the measure approved. (MLF)

Shows that the reality of Robert Moore and his University of Illinois Writing Clinic is far more complex than previously assumed. Offers a history that is a familiar narrative about the politics of writing centers and writing programs designed to meet the needs of under-prepared students. (SG)

Describes the development of a program that incorporates materials for 8 productions with an interest in: opening the doors to theatre by using dramatic working materials; building a bridge between the education institution and the art institution; and expanding educational understanding and repertoire by learning art production processes. (SC)

Discusses leadership styles in two distinct situations--cooperative and counteractive. Effective leadership in cooperative situations depends on productivity, satisfaction, and cohesion in problem solving. Counteractive situations demand a political leadership style at home with coalitions, bargaining, persuasion, and coercion. Dynamic leadership…

This report proposes 40 specific steps that can be taken to strengthen arts advocacy efforts in the region of the United States. Some steps can be taken immediately; others may take time to realize. There are five primary areas of recommended activities in this strategy, with simple "how to get started" instructions: (1)…