The author's journey as a strategic staffing principal in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been one of ups and downs, scary turns and some great success for students. It began in May 2008 when she was asked to move to Devonshire Elementary School with marching orders to "turn the school around." Because of its failure to meet annual…

Even in the best of times, budget development in a school community poses an enormous challenge. However, these times are hardly normal. Global markets are shaken badly. The nation's economy is in recession. State legislatures are seeking sharp reductions in the current fiscal year. Months of financial turmoil likely will make 2009 the ugliest…

For nearly 20 years the system has waded around in the swamp of school reform, fixing schools that are not broken and leveraging change that is not necessary. It is quite simple. Current educational reforms are based on a misguided, mechanistic view of the world. This view rests on the Descartian (Cartesian) belief that the universe is like a…

In this article, a former principal at Falk Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin, describes his school's shift as it sought to create an inclusive school for all students and establish an authentic sense of belonging. Nationwide, schools and districts from Concord, New Hampshire, to Whittier, California, and from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to…

In the ongoing debate of the efficacy of top-down versus bottom-up strategies to improve school districts, top-down is clearly losing. Many district leaders are reluctant to champion improvement for fear of being labeled with the epithet "top-down leader," the unkindest cut of all. In this article, the author presents the change…

In this article, the author discusses the issue of high school reform in American high schools. According to him, there are a number of reasons, but chief among them is that a consensus haven't been reached on what high schools are supposed to do. He states that America can claim it has some of the best high schools in the world, and it does. But…

Most daunting part of systemwide change is coping with complex mix of human needs, feelings, and emotions accompanying any change. By acknowledging the human dimensions of the planning enterprise and integrating them into the planning task, thoughtful leaders can bring about productive changes in their middle schools without damaging the most…

How administrators communicate with stakeholders about alternative student-assessment methods can make or break their reform efforts. This article highlights innovative communication strategies used in Kentucky, San Diego, and other urban districts affiliated with the National Alliance for Restructuring Education. Sidebars offer strategies for…

A review of significant research studies on high school restructuring supports four key findings. Reforms must be connected to instruction; remotely imposed mandates do not improve achievement; restructuring produces modest achievement gains; and high schools with smaller enrollments create a better sense of belonging for students and more…

According to Hornbeck, too little attention is paid to disabled youngsters in the nation's school restructuring discussions. To improve education for all children, "schools of distinction" must be created that shun standardized testing and rigid procedural requirements. Adequate staff development, increased funding, and teacher support…

Describes the reasons for renewed interest in the K-8 school model, including dissatisfaction with middle schools, research linking improved academic achievement with K-8 grade configuration, and parent support. Includes examples of districts that have converted middle schools to K-8 schools. Identifies the challenges districts face in moving to…

W. Edwards Deming's concepts offer an integrated approach to quality schooling. Three barriers must be overcome: fear of industrial models, poor knowledge of workers and work processes, and unquestioned beliefs. Instead, educators must develop community understanding and commitment, establish business-education partnerships, and manage schools as…

Michael Strembitsky, director of the High Performance Management Program with the National Alliance for Restructuring Education, helps administrators, policymakers, and community leaders work through problems and challenges accompanying decentralization, deregulation, and results-driven reform efforts. He finds that school staff with…

Recently, the National Center for Educational Leadership surveyed 35 Kentucky superintendents about changing roles since passage of the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act. Results showed that superintendents were learning to lead from the background, enhancing all stakeholders' participation, and working hard to manage reform requirements. Many…

To embed ongoing learning opportunities in routine school practices, superintendents must help schools create the collaborative cultures that enable teachers to work together, engage in collective inquiry, and learn from each others' experience. Suggestions for fostering quality staff development, clarifying priorities, and improving capacity are…