Findings of a study that identified Massachusetts teacher leaders and their needs are presented in this paper. The research was conducted to inform the design of a teacher leadership program to be sponsored by the Massachusetts Field Center for Teaching and Learning. Methodology involved a literature review and a survey of 67 K-12 teachers…

As Pacific educational leaders strive to make their educational systems meaningful for their own island people, lessons can be learned from the research on change. This is the second in a series of three papers on the broad phases of educational change: initiation, implementation, and institutionalization and renewal. The Concerns Based Adoption…

Findings of a study that examined the level of teacher engagement in school reform in Chicago Public Schools and differences in the level of engagement across schools are presented in this paper. The School Reform Act of 1988 transferred much of the policymaking and administrative authority from the central school board to Local School Councils…

The South Central Ohio Regional Training Center (SCRTC) is one of the Centers established in response to a directive from the Ohio State Department of Education to: (1) provide teacher-centered professional development experiences that build on the values of collegiality; (2) strengthen teacher leadership in educational improvement and change; (3)…

This paper describes the research and development of a conceptual framework to use in restructuring rural schools. In reviewing the literature of school restructuring, citations were categorized under concepts related to fundamental change. Initial assumptions about school restructuring were identified, such as "learning is participatory."…

Broad patterns in the last 30 years of research on educational change are traced in this synthesis paper. The three dominant perspectives are: (1) the rational-scientific perspective that posits that change is created by the dissemination of innovative techniques; (2) the political perspective (the "top-down" approach) that generates…

This document outlines the 1992 proposals of the Education Commission of the States (ECS) to gain public commitment and to assist state leaders in translating educational vision into reality. The first part examines the need for systemic educational reform, arguing that the key to systems change is a renewed democratic debate about public policy.…

Findings of a study that examined the effect of school restructuring, particularly increased teacher participative decision-making, on classroom teaching practices are presented in this paper. Data were derived from: (1) classroom observations of 33 elementary and senior high schools, which matched pilot with nonpilot schools, and (2) a…

This paper provides a review of research that examined transformational leadership in the context of K-12 school restructuring. It presents a rationale for studying transformational leadership, a theoretical framework for such study, and findings of six studies about the effects of transformational leadership. The framework is comprised of…

This book examines the changing role of teacher unions in the educational reform movement. It contains nine case studies of unions across the United States that are forging new, collaborative relationships with management in a reconceptualization of "professional unionism." Chapters include: (1) "Building the Airplane While It's Rolling Down the…

Over the past decade, there have been many calls for fundamental change in public education including a less hierarchical leadership structure and decentralized decision-making. While many plans provide goals for education reform, they do not provide a plan for achieving these goals. This guide offers school districts help in using strategic…

While school-based management (SBM) is increasingly becoming a part of state and district reform efforts, there is little evidence that it improves school performance. However, this may be an unrealistic expectation for a governance-oriented reform. SBM also can improve organizational performance not only when people at lower levels are brought…

Early efforts at site-based decision making in Texas created many diverse questions about how to proceed. In some school districts, the change to a new decision-making balance centered around the district office. In others, strong campus control was established and effective self-governance plans were created. This monograph presents the…

Written to help educators maximize student learning, this publication outlines a process for designing and implementing an improvement and restructuring plan based on knowledge acquisition, needs assessment, indepth planning, and development of commitment to change. Research has identified 14 conditions for successful schools: high attendance,…

In Colorado, a charter school is a public school operated by a group of parents, teachers, and/or community members as a semi-autonomous school of choice within a school district, operating under a contract between the charter school members and the local board of education. This publication provides information on the operation of charter schools…