In the current climate of accountability, the responsibilities of principals have increased. The new role of principals requires new forms of training, and standards-based reform is generating major changes in principal-preparation programs. This digest examines some of those changes. First, it looks at the effectiveness of principal-preparation…

A staff development program for administrators focuses on three areas, each having its own workshop: (1) leadership styles; (2) organizational climate; and (3) analyzing feedback from the evaluations. (CJ)

It is argued that administrators cannot increase their administrative capabilities in isolation from the rest of the institution. The motivation to achieve a high level of competence must be supported at the institutional level. An approach to the simultaneous development of administrators and institutions is outlined. (Author/JMD)

Reviews the literature on management development and summarizes results of a survey of human resources development (HRD) professionals' perceptions about management development practices. Topics discussed include identifying management development needs; strategic business plans, succession plans, and individual development plans; frequency and…

Describes a program developed by the Association of California Community Colleges to provide one-year mentoring experiences between veteran administrators and administrative staff who aspire to leadership positions. Sample program forms illustrate the program's administration. Discusses the results of an assessment survey completed by 391 of the…

Whether staff members are working in urban, rural, or suburban branches, for many years national organizations have been committed to preparing them to work effectively with young people. Over the past couple of decades, national organizations have sought and received strong funding to develop targeted, comprehensive professional development…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for holistic professional development as an alternative to practices that have been piecemeal and curriculum focused ignoring, in particular, the critical dimension of management development. Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual framework for considering professional development needs…

Professional development of senior staff in English and Welsh schools has traditionally involved universities and local education authorities (LEAs). This paper reviews the development of education-management courses--the client-professional relationship, the customer-provider relationship (or market-forces model), and the partnership…

As states transfer more responsibility for education decisions to local school systems, effective leadership at the local level is essential. This report presents the Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) model for leadership development, as practiced by the SREB Leadership Academy. Since 1991, teams from 12 school systems in the southern…

During the mid- to late-1990s, economic downturns, outmigration of residents, and school closures in Nova Scotia contributed to a lack of movement among school administrators and thus a bottleneck of candidates seeking promotion to the principalship. This paper presents findings of a study that identified the professional-development needs of…

The Administrator Development Academy (ADA) is a 6-week preparation program for aspiring school administrators, developed by the Department of Educational Administration at a large state university in a midwestern city. Since 1983, the program's approach has shifted from one based on traditional discussions and lectures to one centered on the…

A proposal that calls for increasing the relevance of administrator preparation by applying a problem-based learning approach is offered in this paper. A review of literature on problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education concludes that, compared with traditional programs, PBL yields superior or equivalent results on a variety of outcome…

Although the initial focus of the reform movement was on teachers, considerable attention has been devoted to administrators--especially principals--since it has been recognized that the quality of a principal's leadership has a significant impact on the effectiveness of the educational programs in our schools. The purpose of this guide is to…

The needs of those who move from classrooms into administrative offices must be addressed if school systems are to achieve effectiveness. Presented in this paper is a brief description of the elements of an effective school administrator induction program. A justification for administrator induction programs distinct from those of teacher…

An argument for teaching vision development and clarification in educational administration programs through the use of multiple conceptual frameworks is presented in this paper. A review of two conceptual frameworks--reflective practice and leadership forces--concludes that vision, a key ingredient of effective leadership, must be more thoroughly…