This paper explores the 2013 merger between Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. The paper looks at this merger through a historical and philosophical perspective. At the core of the paper, it analyzes the effects of the merger and what role leadership and community opposition played in shaping its legacy.

Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit 8 (IU8) seeks to scale innovations that are evolving as local solutions to educational challenges in rural school districts. Consistent with its mission of creating customized solutions, IU8 seeks to make the innovations better, meaning more learner centered and community focused. IU8 is evolving the Getting Better…

The longstanding concerns of the author relative to society's tendency to make the public schools "responsible for all of society's problems" is addressed. The concerns as updated in this article have been expressed over the years as the author moved around the southeast in several letters to editors along the way.

The extant literature indicates that parental engagement is positively related with student achievement (Celenk, 2003; Epstein, 1995, 2009, 2011; Gul, 2007; Henderson, Daviess, Johnson & Mapp, 2007; Henderson & Mapp, 2002; Kotoman, 2008; Jeynes, 2012; Sad, 2012; Sheldon & Epstein, 2005; Sui-Chu & Willms, 1996). Despite its promise…

The purpose of this paper was to explore issues in resistance to the public school system in urban communities, and in particular, Chicago, Illinois. Data from the Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) School and Citywide Reports (CPS, 2007) were analyzed to assess the disconnect between urban communities and public education. Although the city is 42%…

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to gain an understanding of how senior school administrators define inspired public schools; and (2) to discern the characteristics of inspired schools to guide meaningful school improvement efforts. Twenty-nine senior leaders--school superintendents and assistant superintendents--from across New England…