Studies of high-performing schools, where all students learn more than similar students in other schools, show common design elements. These elements are comprehensive, affecting the whole school, and include: (1) Clear mission guiding daily activities; (2) High, unyielding expectations that all students will learn; (3) Frequent monitoring of…

The purpose of this guide is to help chronically struggling schools restructure. "Restructuring" means major, rapid changes that affect how a school is led and how instruction is delivered. Restructuring is essential in achieving rapid improvements in student learning. The focus is on helping education leaders choose strategies that…

The purpose of this document is to provide operators with implementation and operational technical assistance related to special education in charter schools. Special education is a very complicated component of public education and providing operators with technical assistance regarding special education is particularly challenging. This primer…

Mapping for Success: Mapping and Aligning the Curriculum To Improve Student Learning, A Guide for Facilitators serves as both a training manual for future mapping facilitators and a facilitator?s primary resource for implementing the mapping process in a school. In the mapping process, teachers outline, analyze, and change a school?s curriculum…

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has made substantial changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). These changes range from new assessment and accountability provisions in Title I that affect states, school districts, and schools to increased flexibility in use of funds for several programs, including the ability to consolidate…

School leaders deal with pressures, pitfalls, and opportunities every day. The authors maintain that creative leaders can keep schools moving in the right direction by reflecting on their natural talents and maximizing the strengths of their staff. This completely updated guide helps you assess your role as an administrator, shows how you might…

Data fuel the process of change. Schools and districts should have electronic data systems that store data and make it easy to extract useful information. School leaders and their staff have questions; they need answers. Their data, when stored in a suitable electronic data system, will help them construct better answers to their questions more…