School leaders could see all their students ascend to new heights of academic achievement and find their jobs de-stressed and joyful--if they focused on only the one or two most urgently needed instructional initiatives. Schmoker makes the "case for less" and notes that if school leaders applied strict criteria to select the initiative…

"It's always been a promising time for teacher leadership. It's just never been a successful time," writes noted educator Roland Barth. Why? Barth points to five obstacles: administrator resistance, the taboo in teaching against elevating oneself higher than one's peers, the fact that teachers' plates are full, the…

Among the factors preventing effective curriculum management are that schools do not state their missions in specific terms or utilize their resources, and neglect systematic use of feedback. (Author/MLF)

Individually Guided Education (IGE) has been promoted to schools through two agencies: The Institute for Development of Educational Activities, Inc. (I/D/E/A/), and Wisconsin R & D Center for Individualized Schooling. The problems IGE has experienced and the role of the supervisor are discussed. (Author/MLF)

Responses of 165 elementary school principals in the state of Washington were analyzed to determine sources through which principals learn of curricular innovations in science and social studies. (GW)

Curriculum development, shared decision-making, and serving as an instructional leader are part of the principal's role. (Author/MLF)

A principal of a charter school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, recounts the triumphs and pitfalls of the school's first year. The school charter lacked a clear-cut avenue for making changes. Intending to create a parent-run school, the founding board (themselves parents) made drastic curricular changes without consulting other parents. Passionate…

A survey of 57 Minnesota school districts about participants in district curriculum decisionmaking reveals a heavy involvement by principals in both curriculum coordination and development. Teachers are less involved in coordination than in the development process. Community members are almost totally excluded, and students are excluded.…

Describes the results of a study of three programs successfully teaching basic skills. Characteristics of successful schools include careful alignment of curriculum and instruction and grade-level instructional planning. (Author/JM)

Over the past 30 years, Florida's 500 middle schools have become more sizeable, racially segregated, and security conscious. Other features include interdisciplinary team organization, warring curricula, block schedules, integrated technology, inclusion, ability grouping, corporate practices, and female and minority principals committed to…