School performance frameworks (SPFs) are action-oriented information tools that provide information on school performance and quality across a variety of measures. SPFs have evolved as a solution for local communities to make sense of an array of student, school, and system performance data, and to support transparent and equitable decisions. SPFs…

Educators, government officials, and other stakeholders of schools have an interest in whether family involvement affects the academic achievement of students. While some research has shown that children whose parents are involved in their education from early childhood perform academically better than do children whose parents are less involved,…

This paper reviews characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), possible causes of ASD, current demographic information, the effects on the individual with ASD and the family, as well as diversity and multicultural issues related to autism. Additionally, the paper provides pertinent information about students with ASD for both general…

This study investigated the effect of electronic communication has on parent's involvement with their high school child's education. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) specifically requires that schools find ways to increase parental involvement; this requirement stemmed from evidence that involvement tends to decline as the students…

Guided by theories of institutions, organizations, and sense-making, this manuscript examines how public, charter, and Catholic school staff in a large urban area organize for instruction and respond to educational change. To build theory about institutional processes of "organizing" from participants' perspectives, data included a…

Lessons learned from the Ohio Early Care and Education Campaign can help other states craft effective messages about the importance of investing in early childhood initiatives. Important legislative activity that is likely to occur over the next year at both the state and federal level, such as the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act…

With the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) now a constant in education and accountability linked specifically to standards that must be met by all students, the chances are likely that good schools--or even schools with a great academic reputation--will be thrust before the general public and labeled inadequate. Many such schools will be left to…

Communicating why and how school leaders are effective in their work will go a long way toward increasing awareness of the profession and highlighting academic successes in our schools. Research shows school leadership and school performance are closely linked. According to a report by the Wallace Foundation, leadership is second only to teaching…

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation of 2001 has brought great public and professional pressure upon U.S. public schools. Perhaps trying to explain its requirements and possible consequences is the most daunting task for school leaders. This article provides an overview of its legal context followed by thoughts about effective public…

Presented is the October 2005 forum, titled "Leadership for Change," where superintendents attending the three-day conference in Denver, Colorado, openly discussed the challenges they face, how they are tackling those challenges, and what is ahead for public education. They shared insightful and moving stories about efforts to close the…