Despite considerable federal support for educational innovations, few innovations persist beyond the period of federal funding. The non-persistence and premature termination of so many innovations make it desirable to determine managerial strategies that may work to ensure that innovations believed to make a difference in solving educational…

This paper explores some definitions of school-based budgeting and other forms of decentralization, attempts to determine the extent of their adoption, develops some indications of decentralization results, and provides suggestions for further research directions. The paper addresses (1) how often decentralization involving a change in resource…

School districts have attempted to integrate their efforts at school improvement with concepts and techniques of organization development. Some of them have approached the problem of continuous change with the help of an internal cadre of peers who offer organization development services to their school districts. The following school districts…

This essay defines autonomy as the responsible self-direction of teachers engaged in planning and carrying out instruction in the schools in which they teach, particularly in their own classrooms. This 'professional' definition excludes the influence of teachers on district- or state-level policies, regulations, guidelines, or plans. The essay…

The Minnesota Extension Service sought to have adult learners provide local leadership for establishing educational priorities as well as to have them become actively involved in the organizational change and program-planning process. Because it was found that many citizens are unprepared for such leadership roles, the extension service developed…

A self-examination of the Central Library System (CLS) at Temple University was undertaken by a task force made up of staff members to examine the current organizational structure in the light of technological, financial, curricular, enrollment, and library service considerations, as well as such organizational concerns as work flow, appropriate…

In response to increasing financial pressures, Oakland Community College instituted a policy in the 1970s to reduce the number of college administrators as a means of saving staff costs. While student enrollments increased from 11,700 in 1970 to 24,000 in 1980, the number of administrators fell from 84 to 32. This reduction was realized through…

This document provides extensive procedural detail for the design and execution of a needs analysis/feasibility study survey and the resulting 6-day experimental demonstration project of information and instructional programming (called Cablexpo), which was presented over two of the Iowa State University's five cable television access channels.…

Four alternative organizational structures are discussed with regard to their applicability to the reorganization of community college allied health programs. After introductory material noting the complexities, multiple interfaces, and high costs that make allied health and nursing programs prime targets for reorganization, the four models of…

An onsite study of two major program areas (faculty development and curriculum revision) in a national sample of 11 Dean's Grant Program projects sought to increase understanding of how academic innovation and change occur in higher education, and the processes for effectively managing change. Case study methodology was used, and data were…

Presidents and top-level administrators often need to hear more than the obvious reasons to maintain a commitment to retention programs, equal access, and equal opportunity. The most potent arguments center on appeals based on the costs of not having a well-managed program of equal educational opportunity, (e.g., litigation costs, tarnished image,…

This study is based on an external assessment of the School Self-Renewal Program in New York City. The program represents the largest and longest running Organization Development (OD) program in the country. Twelve of 24 high schools participating in the program in 1977 were sampled. The renewal model employed for school based change was found to…

This paper focuses upon the question of how a cross sectional research team might prepare to provide research results to an urban school system in such a way as to maximize their usefulness in the development or redevelopment of school district policy. The aim of this team is to provide for the acceptance of positive change over time, within the…

This paper describes a follow-up study that was made to assess the accuracy of Delphi forecasts produced as part of a 1970 study on changes in the organizational structure of large school districts. The 1970 study examined the organizational models of 82 of the largest U.S. school districts, based on data gathered from superintendents of the…

In a specially designed forum, 30 teachers and administrators joined a group of researchers to interpret some recent research findings. Discussion groups focused on four issues: teacher and principal morale, specialists and conflict, teacher teams, and "loose coupling" between the district and school. A dynamic exchange of ideas resulted, with…