Offers reflections from eight people (administrators, teachers, and parents) who all took part in the collaborative transformation of literacy practices in a small K-8 school district. Discusses growth processes, connections across role boundaries, and staff development. Appends a list of recommended readings. (SR)

Reports five teachers' perceptions of how teacher participation in school decision making has affected school and classroom activities. Discusses the consequences in terms of teachers' beliefs about their own competence, the persistence of the culture of teacher isolation, prevailing forms of politesse, professional educators' uncertainty about…

Discusses the use of a Multi-Attribute Consensus Building (MACB) technique to build consensus on a national model of educational outcomes and indicators. Describes the stages of consensus building and the tasks mandated in each stage, including the generation of input, the consensus conference, and the synthesis of consensus. (RJM)

Presents results of a study of school administrators to determine support for the responsibility of social studies teachers to deal with controversial issues. Examines the influence of administrators on teacher decisions. Concludes that expressed support for dealing with controversial issues and critical thinking may appear more substantive than…

Describes the role of the rural community development worker in achieving social change by encouraging participatory decision making. Presents results of a participatory research study in which the author, as a community worker, empowers a village with a failed water supply to seek change where they had previously experienced resistance by…

Although multiage grouping is part of a greater approach to change in education, classroom problems can result when the approach's rationale is not understood. Three precepts of vertical grouping concern heterogeneity of student groups, individualized materials and activities, and a caring learning community. Factors influencing successful…

The most significant finding of various commission reports is stakeholders' lack of involvement in the decisions affecting them. School board's major function is to develop processes that ensure stakeholder participation in developing and implementing a shared vision for education. Board should ensure that all competent administrators and teachers…

The key to our future students' success is educators' ability to transcend their immediate ego-protected environments and openly seek, accept, incorporate, and publicly acknowledge expertise and opinions of others. Principals advocating benefits of collaborative decision making must show tolerance and encourage a wide variety of management,…

Current plans to use National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results to compare and rank states may lead to a perception of NAEP as a national achievement test representing a national curriculum. NAEP procedures should be reformulated to enhance curriculum coherence, instruction, and participation by local and state educators. (TJH)

This study of the composition and operation of both "top down" and "participative" school management teams in 18 Israeli elementary schools considers (1) how management teams are organized, solve problems, and make decisions; and (2) how the operation of the management team influences school effectiveness. No relationship…

Contrasts the faculty-led administration of the Waldorf Schools founded by R. Steiner with the administration by local school councils established in the Chicago (Illinois) Public Schools through the School Reform Act. In Chicago, morale and status of teachers can be improved by increasing their administrative partnership. (SLD)

At the American Association of School Administrators' 124th annual meeting in February 1992, participating superintendents pursued improving public schooling design to achieve the results that communities are increasingly demanding. After detailing obstacles to success, speakers laid out workable solutions involving total quality management,…

Principals and central-office administrators often spend little time interacting or discussing curriculum, instruction, and staff development. Leadership consciousness must be formed through links between schools and the central office. In a restructured setting, central-office leaders support the principal, provide technical assistance and…

The circular nonhierarchical organization of the Hishkoonikun local education authority in Kashechewan, Ontario (Canada), makes students the central focus of educational decision making, provides equality and improves accountability and responsibility among various educational stakeholders, and reflects Native cultural values and traditions. (SV)

Examines the evolving role of parents in school decision making. Discusses the history of the parent-school relationship during the 20th century, categories of parent involvement, class and gender biases within the power structure, influence of principal's leadership style, needs for parent and educator reeducation, and development of true…