Summarizes a 1992-93 qualitative study examining how three private elementary schools used a shared-governance structure for involving participants in school-improvement efforts. Since private schools must solve their own problems and define educational directions, they benefit from autonomy. They survive by establishing a voluntary community with…

The present confrontational labor/management negotiations model mitigates against the development of a higher form of teacher professionalism. Current union and school management models are highly centralized governance systems. Collaborative planning must be instituted in a collegial manner to be successful. (MLH)

Examines distinctive organizational and decision-making characteristics of models of school-based management found in Spain, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dade County (Florida). Models differ in original source of change and position on a decentralization continuum, ranging from deconcentration of workload to permanent devolution of authority.…

The two reform orientations termed "hard" and "soft" policy do not represent a set of mutually exclusive choices for policymakers. Bureaucratically and professionally based decision-making approaches must coexist in schools and school districts. The dual policy approach necessitates a rethinking of administrative posture and gives shape to a…

Few of the empirical studies on school restructuring adequately describe the role of site teams in school reform. This paper addresses this gap, an analysis of what site teams do, how they are configured, and how they operate. This paper presents empirical measures of variables relating to the decision-making and communication practices engaged in…

In the Fifth Five Year Plan, the Indian Planning Commission recommended "democratic decentralization" to help remove disparities at the local level. Priorities were to be adult literacy and universal elementary education, with emphasis on adopting a multilevel approach to educational planning. The idea was to provide action plans at the…

In Kentucky, where school-based decision making is legally mandated for all public schools, appreciable policy and decision-making powers are vested in SBDM school councils. Since 1990, educators have learned some valuable lessons: reform policies need early implementation guidelines; decentralization mandates create control problems for state…

In this monograph, the authors attempt to illustrate some of the more important components of decentralization and participative management with examples, or working models. Many of these models, according to the authors, function to illustrate the concept, provide models for adaptation, and inform the readers about districts that can be contacted…