Presents a feminist analysis of how decentralized decision-making policies are reflected at the local level in four countries: Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, and Israel. These examples indicate that management practices tend to be more modernist than postmodernist, and often have highly inequitable effects for female teachers. Contains 63…

Clients and counselors need to have a collaborative relationship if the helping process has a chance for success. Article discusses working alliance from the perspective of the school counselor, reviews research into the importance of the alliance for the counselor/client relationship, problems caused by the school context, and suggests ways in…

A UK study shadowed and interviewed 32 secondary-school department heads to identify their leadership/management styles; sense of empowerment; and initiatives for and obstacles to improving teaching, learning, and achievement in classrooms. Shared power among senior and middle managers in UK schools is rare; training must change radically.…

Reflects on one person's experiences as the principal of an urban professional development school, contending that establishing supportive interpersonal relationships and creating a positive organizational culture are the primary responsibilities of the principal. One of the lessons learned from this experience is that stakeholders are more likely…

A project team's success variables are autonomy, outward focus, accountability, and dependence. Administrators can prevent committee-it is by allowing teams to pick their own leaders; communicating who has "chartered" the team; establishing clear goals, decision-making expectations, and time-lines; advocating consensus; and providing…

Describes a study that investigates faculty perception of shared governance and whether there exist differences of opinion resulting from institutional and demographic variables. Indicates that most faculty accept the notion of cooperation and collaboration in shared governance, and that differences based on region or location have little effect…

Investigates the efficacy of the participatory leadership model incorporated at an urban community college. Concludes that the participatory model may operate to exclude people from leadership as much as the traditional hierarchical model. Contains 29 references. (JDI)

Examines the trend of children engaging in community environmental action and policy development around the world. It reveals that children are beginning to constitute themselves as a force within city governance, environmental planning, and social policy and explores whether this activity constitutes a "children's movement." (GR)

Nine evaluations of projects of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are described. Most are formative in nature, designed to improve the programs targeted and to increase stakeholder participation. Almost all were conducted in Africa. The descriptions of research methodology have many implications for educational evaluation. (SLD)

Uses data from four cities (Chicago, Fort Worth, New York, and Rochester) to explore schools' budgetary and personnel discretion under school-based budgeting; how resource-allocation decisions are made; and factors influencing expenditure decisions. A school-based-budgeting process may increase stakeholder involvement and satisfaction without…

In 1997, the National PTA developed and adopted National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs to help schools, communities, and parenting groups implement effective parent involvement. Six standards are essential for optimum results (communicating, parenting, student learning, volunteering, school decision making and advocacy, and…

By successfully creating links with the larger community, one San Diego high school principal discovered the keys to building a true learning community. Community building requires a shared, research-based vision; specific educational goals; a meaningfully aligned curriculum; constituent involvement; careful monitoring; ongoing professional…

Examines whether principals utilized flexible influence strategies under changing circumstances, based on perceptions of 450 Israeli elementary teachers. Principals acted mainly through an informal, less directive orientation of influence both in ordinary times and in times of change. Principals' leaned toward participatory influence approaches.…

Describes restructuring of an academic department at Radford University; uses a dialogue between the department chair and the vice president of academic affairs to present the process's contrasting perspectives. Explores how faculty and administrators can treat budgetary challenges as opportunities to renew institutional missions, collaborate in…

Although schools are increasingly adopting site-based management (SBM), little uniformity exists among districts. SBM is suffering from growing pains and "shop-floor realities." Principals and teachers are managing schools through trial-and-error. Many principals are paranoid about their changing roles, and teachers are struggling with budgeting…