This research explored principals' perceived leadership content knowledge around literacy by examining the relationship between principals' perceptions of their own literacy knowledge and the actions that they took to support teachers' literacy instruction. A sampling group included seven elementary principals and 25 elementary teachers from Title…

Research has shown that principal leadership is strongly connected to student achievement and plays a pivotal role in creating schools in which students and staff can achieve successful outcomes. Research has also shown the role of self-efficacy in approaching and completing difficult and challenging tasks. Title I schools include many risk…

Strategic instructional resourcing has become an important topic in public education, the most lucrative and expensive business in the United States. It is estimated which the United States spends about $612.7 billion annually on public education. This study will analyze and synthesize data from Title I schools in South Carolina, specifically in…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between principals' instructional practices and student achievement. A phenomenological case study examined 13 Title I elementary schools in central California that exhibited a) a high percentage of students from poverty, b) higher than average state assessment results, and c) principals…

This comparative qualitative study design examines and compares the leadership styles, characteristics, and practices of three effective principals leading high-performing Title I secondary campuses. This examination is significant because campus principal and leadership is the second most influential factor on-campus that impacts student…

The purpose of this paper is to examine principals' instructional actions in rural, high-poverty schools and the perceived impact on student achievement. For this qualitative case study, research questions were: What principals' instructional leadership practices are being demonstrated in rural, high-poverty schools based on the literature and…

Distributed leadership practices were used by principals to engage teacher leaders in instructional leadership responsibilities to create an innovative learning culture in Title I elementary schools. It was not known how teachers described the influence of principal-distributed leadership practices on organizational learning and innovativeness in…

This qualitative single-case study describes effective leadership practices implemented in a Title I school that was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. The study highlights best practices utilized by one school leader to assist new and experienced school leaders in understanding the strategies and impact of principals on instruction,…

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and understand the impact of standardized testing on educational practice in an urban, Title I school community, and to determine solutions to improve the utility of standardized testing in supporting student learning and achievement. The specific areas of focus are diagnosing…

Education is a standards-driven business where accountability is at the forefront of its practices and processes for evaluating schools. The role of today's school leaders has changed tremendously in this new era of accountability. The research and findings presented in this paper will explain the evolution that has taken place in the duties of…

School leadership is a key component of successful school environments and academic performance strategies. Among school-related factors, school leadership is second to teaching in its impact on student learning. In addition, research shows that strong leaders contribute significantly to successful school turnaround. To ensure that school leaders…

This dissertation is intended to complement the conversation in the social sciences about the challenging role of campus principals and the influence they have on teacher retention and job satisfaction. School principals are held accountable for creating positive change within the campus, therefore they supervise the operational and instructional…

Schools are faced with increasing pressures from declining test scores and outcry from the public to improve the educational system. Efforts to reform the system have varied widely and produced inconsistent results. One school took a different approach by embracing the reform efforts through a systematic change process, led by a transformational…

National research shows that students attending arts-rich schools have higher levels of motivation and better academic and social success. This two-page research brief summarizes key points from the full report (published separately), the first in a series of three on the Creative Learning Initiative, is used to track the progress of our…

In 2017, the Center on School Turnaround at WestEd published the "Four Domains for Rapid School Improvement: A Systems Framework" [see ED584107] a framework to assist states, districts, and schools to improve student achievement in the lowest-performing schools. The framework immediately garnered national attention by outlining four…