This paper reports the results of a statistical study of two community school districts within one urban school system. The purposes of the study were to determine (1) whether parents in a decentralized district are more satisfied with their schools than are parents in a regular, centralized district, and (2) whether the type of school district is…

The Fuentes case demonstrated how the community's rights could be subverted by a purposeful faction; the Canarsie case showed how unchecked local control could damage children's rights. Successful decentralization requires the central board to assert its authority to prevent the arbitrary exercise of local power. (EH)

This article provides data on the decentralization of seven large U. S. school systems, explaining when and how it came about. (Editor)

Analysis of report to be published by the Urban Coalition.

ERIC abstracts on citizen involvement in the control of schools, announced in RIE through Novermber 1970, are presented. The key terms used in compiling this collection are "citizen participation,""decentralization,""parent participation,""parent school relationship,""school community relationship," and "school district autonomy." The following…

Examines, by means of interviews with school principals, some of the problems involved in decentralization of the New York City school system. (WM)

Public school systems in Chicago have seen relatively little movement toward school decentralization, despite turbulent periods of civil rights. Some explanations framed in theoretical perspectives for the apparent lag as compared with other cities are given. (Author/AM)

After all the money spent, jobs allocated, new machinery and programs introduced, after all the publicity and conflict, and after all the bold rhetoric about the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Demonstration School District, New York City, the children of the district cannot read as well today as they did five years ago. (Author)

Argues that the principal cause of failure has been due to a lack of sufficient power to overcome the opposition of groups who depended upon and actively defended the historically centralized and professionally dominated system. (Author/AM)

Noting that a historical example of local control is valuable in assessing the results of greater community involvement in school affairs, this article focuses on the development of the decentralized Pittsburgh school system, which in the early 1900's was composed of 38 sub-district boards, each possessing authority to levy taxes and to appoint…

A sequential model of events that commonly precedes the emergence of demands of community control is proposed. Responses of district authorities to the control demand is then interpreted within the framework of several theoretical models.

Describes the educational ferment that threatens to disrupt the French educational system and some of the changes brought about to maintain French educational tradition. (RK)

Contrasts community control with community participation in administratively decentralized schools. Lists large school districts in the U.S. which have been decentralized and discusses attitudes of school officials toward community involvement in public schools. Calls for more research on the effects of decentralization and community control on…

The paper draws on findings from three case studies on the changing role of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in England and explores the degree of LEA effectiveness, their contribution to school improvement, and the nature of their leadership. The context for the study is one in which, over the years, the powers and responsibilities of LEAs have…