This article examines the language games played by superintendents as they work with school boards and community activists to craft school policy. We begin by examining the role of language in problem definition and the agenda-setting process. We then examine how political culture and the media affect problem definition. We argue that school…

The purpose of this study was to examine the links among gender, age, and marital and family status to try to understand why women have been less likely than men to pursue the superintendent position. The participants of the study included individuals who earned a superintendent's letter of eligibility from a Pennsylvania institution of higher…

This case study explores the politics and ethics surrounding a likely breach of school policy and possible breach of law. Students will be asked to identify key legal, ethical, and political issues in a unique scenario involving complex community issues, a split board, and unknown levels of support from superiors. At stake are employment status of…

This paper presents the first large study of public management quality and its effect on program performance. Using 5 years of data from more than 1000 Texas school districts, the authors measure quality as the additional salary paid to school superintendents over and above the normal determinants of salary. This measure of managerial quality is…

"Alabama Education News" is published monthly except for June, July, and December by the Alabama Department of Education. This publication, authorized by Section 16-2-4 of the "Code of Alabama", as recompiled in 1975, is a public service of the Alabama Department of Education designed to inform citizens and educators about…

The purpose of this paper is to share findings from two studies. One study investigates how Minnesota school administrators are addressing cultural diversity and English Language Learners. Data was collected through an electronic survey sent to superintendents and principals. 326 surveys from a possible 998 were completed for a return rate of…

This paper presents findings of a case study of 4 first-year superintendents, which comprised part of a national study of 18 superintendents conducted from 1992-94. Data were collected from interviews, observation, and document analysis. All four superintendents had agendas focused on improving services for children. Three superintendents with the…

Academic-vocational integration has been identified as a national strategy ensuring that students learn a rigorous course of study in a context that supports learning through application. Four key concepts surround the definition of curriculum integration developed by the Curriculum Committee of the California School Boards Association's project:…

Illinois' school-reform act of 1985 authorized the development of an Administrators Academy for training principals to evaluate teachers and for training superintendents to evaluate principals. Renewal of school administrators' certification was contingent upon attendance. Some practitioners, educators, and state association directors began to…

This paper presents findings of a study that investigated the number and relative strength of stressors and enhancers of marital and family life for public school superintendents in Wisconsin. A survey mailed to all 410 Wisconsin superintendents elicited 278 responses, a 68 percent response rate. Overall, the superintendents were more likely to…

A survey examined perceptions among superintendents, principals, and special education administrators concerning the role of the special education administrator in West Virginia school systems. All 55 county school superintendents, all 55 district-level special education administrators, and 150 public school principals were sent a survey…

This guide book contains a model portfolio that is designed for use by school boards in evaluating school superintendents. It can also be adapted to evaluate central-office administrators, principals, and other school-level administrators. The portfolio provides for both formative and summative evaluation. The assessment is keyed to the…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the "health" of the superintendency as perceived by superintendents in two states. Questionnaires sent to 307 Illinois superintendents elicited 227 responses, a 74 percent response rate, and questionnaires sent to 137 Massachusetts principals yielded 104 responses, a 76 percent response rate.…

This paper represents a brief history of rural education in Fayette County (Texas) from 1918 through 1975. The paper focuses on the personal narratives of Harry Loeb, the last official superintendent of Fayette County and Emma Diedt, a 50-year Fayette County teacher. The narratives describe Fayette County schools, school politics, and the…

This handbook is the 16th in the series of monographs designed to summarize judicial decisions on elementary and secondary education. The cases included in the book were selected from judicial decisions found in federal and regional reporters for the period July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994. The cases provide a general overview of school law issues…