This paper argues that a major review of the theory of educational administration is required if it is to regain a credible role in academic and practical circles. The argument, which considers the case of regional directors in Victoria, Australia (a role similarly endangered on present assumptions and trends), has four major parts. First is a…

The primary goal of the School Improvement Project (SIP), administered by the central office of New York City (New York) Public Schools, is to improve academic achievement through school-based planning. A planning committee representing the various school constituencies is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to effect…

The document consists of proceedings from the 1987 Leadership Conference on the topic of least restrictive environment (LRE) for severely disabled students. Contents include the following presentations: "The OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) Plan for LRE" (G. Thomas Bellamy); "Bringing about Integrated Community-Based…

Written by a Director of Special Education working for an elementary school district in a small midwestern town, this practicum aimed to improve the special education delivery system in that district. A review of the literature and a survey of district needs indicated that: (1) teachers relied on a refer-test-place cycle when alternatives would…

A description is provided of the development and implementation of a Faculty Coaching System, a systematic evaluation process, at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). Introductory comments by Russ Slicker offer a brief history and description of MATC and a profile of MATC's well-established, stable faculty. Next, Beverly Simone discusses the…

Several current educational practices have narrowed the kindergarten and primary grade curriculum, constricted equal educational opportunity, and curtailed the exercise of professional responsibility of early childhood educators. In response to these trends, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education…

Leadership of colleges and universities poses problems for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the President. Ambiguous constituencies and the pull of various support groups inside and outside the institution present continual dilemmas for each academic CEO. Two instances of academic leadership are presented that compare and analyze the styles of…

This resource booklet attempts to describe the new directions of the department head role. In a recent study by Kenneth Leithwood, "The Secondary School Department Head," 1987, department heads identified democratic decision-making, human relations, planning for program and staff development, and teacher supervision as functions crucial…

The dissertation reports on a study which examined the mainstreaming practices and decisionmaking processes used in Pittsburgh Public Schools' elementary schools and investigated whether learning disabled (LD) students assigned to mainstream academic classes differed academically and behaviorally from non-mainstreamed LD students. The study was…

An institutional research/planning office's attempt to deal with the professional development needs of its staff is described. The objective was to broaden and develop the knowledge base and technical skills of the office as a whole, as well as to benefit individuals. A unique aspect of the program was the development of an in-office training…

A Delphi study identified probable responsibilities of departmental leaders in industrial teacher education (ITE) in the future. Three rounds of correspondence with a panel of experts were used to obtain ratings, arrive at consensus, and rank responsibility statements. The responsibility ranked most important was "manage department resources to…

The first part of this publication delineates, in capsule form, the responsibilities of superintendents and other members of an administrative team. Thereafter, seven basic principles are presented that contribute to a sound, productive relationship between school boards and administrators: (1) a specific written description of administrators'…

Change processes at the school building level are considered in order to formulate a number of locally based strategies, derived from research, for significantly improving schools and classrooms. Part I of the three-part analysis examines, through illustration, what is known about successful change processes at the school and classroom levels.…

An examination of definition, causes, variables, and strategies of implementation suggests the kinds of data necessary for measuring school effectiveness. By focusing on students who first enter school below grade level standards and by understanding that student learning is embedded in a system of key elements or variables that, over time, are…

A study of the effect of implementing educational innovations in local schools across the country explored several factors affecting successful improvement. This paper provides a general overview of the interrelation among these factors, with illustrative diagrams. Particular attention is paid to innovations requiring major changes in teacher…