Profiles Virginia Aguilar, a high school principal who, with her staff, has been exploring and implementing changes and improvements in response to state mandates. The paper describes improvement efforts by the school district and how Aguilar's school makes use of them. Aguilar's encouragement of participative decision making is discussed. (SM)

Describes reorientations related to education innovation policies and discusses the development of a transformational school policy that gives schools a greater opportunity to become strategic organizations. A shift in paradigm for educational policy is examined, and comparisons between western European and U.S. policies are made. (71 references)…

Customer satisfaction as applied to schools assumes that no single change or reform will fix the schools forever; school districts must embrace a process of continuous improvement to respond to changing customer demands. This article describes one suburban California district's new strategic planning process: inviting customers to shape the…

The fundamental job of school board members is to view themselves as moral and cultural leaders and to transform the needs of groups to a higher and more noble framework. Lists the National School Boards Association's statement on the governance role of the local school board. (MLF)

Tasmania's history of reforms in state education administration were inspired yet pragmatic responses to social, political, and economic crises. A progressive devolution of managerial responsibility to schools and colleges between 1982 and 1989 resulted in little movement of governance powers. Hughes's state corporate managerialism has not proved…

Examines role transitions and role strain resulting from restructuring initiatives in four districts. The 20 principals interviewed had acquired coping skills. Cognitive restructuring and environmental factors moderated role strain effects, along with experience, tenure of position, staff trust, personal leadership style, and degree of autonomy…

The article addresses structural, personnel, and pedagogical considerations pertaining to the development of beginning teacher mentoring programs in the context of restructured elementary schools. Research indicates restructured schools provide a natural environment for fostering successful mentoring experiences because of their empowered…

Uses findings of a national longitudinal study to examine the changing role of secondary principals in England and Wales. Explains the United Kingdom's education system, outlines the principal's role within the context of unprecedented educational change, and discusses strategies for coping with changes and balancing roles as educators and…

Compares the Chicago School Reform Act of 1988 with the English Education Reform Act of 1988. Explains the source of authority for school-based management in each setting and examines six common themes. Emphasizes the conflict between the concepts of the professionalism of teachers and client empowerment through enrollment choice or…

Examines how upper-track college preparatory high schools in East Germany are being changed through restructuring and cultural reorientation following unification. Concludes that the gap between state-mandated reforms and teachers' perceptions of the goals of education is hindering implementation of changes. (SK)

Responds to an earlier article that discussed school restructuring as it related to a book by this author. Topics addressed include hyperlearning; virtual reality; experience as separate from technology; and just-in-time learning. (LRW)

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…

To contribute to a knowledge base of effective educational practices, this article summarizes several thousand small-scale psychological experiments on classroom learning and analyses of large-scale national surveys in the United States and other countries. (22 references) (MLF)

Dr. John Brock was elected in 1987 for a four-year term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Kentucky. His official duties were altered by the Kentucky Educational Reform Act (KERA). Dr. Brock answers questions that include his role as superintendent, the background of KERA, and his advice to legislators in other states. (MLF)

By eliminating categorical labels traditionally assigned to students, staff, materials, rooms, instructional procedures, and behavior management practices and promoting teacher and student participation, the Winooski (Vermont) School District has moved away from a dual education system. Collaboration and teaming practices are the cornerstone of…