In response to ongoing needs for improved preservice field experiences for prospective administrators, more stringent state certification standards, and technical support for practitioners, mutually beneficial alliances are being formed between universities and local schools. This paper describes part of a continuing University Council for…

Although field-based learning is alleged to be a vital part of educational administration training programs, this research review shows that high quality investigation is scarce. Most work lacks a theoretical base, so generalizability is severely restricted. Future research should concentrate on candidates' professional development and on issues…

Reviews some widely held assumptions about administrator field experience aims and accomplishments. Shows that adding more ways to engage in field-based practice is insufficient. Envisions a professional formation period, wherein administrator candidates synthesize all learning experiences, values, and priorities to form a more wholistic, personal…

Educational reform commissions and state departments of education across the United States have recommended that would-be administrators spend more time in planned field experiences, internships, and other practica and on-the-job learning activities. Despite this need, systematic research on experiential learning for administrators is remarkably…

Findings of a study that examined the effect of participation in Danforth Foundation-sponsored principal training programs on participants' perceptions of leadership and administrative behaviors are presented in this paper. The field-based program aims to increase minority representation in educational leadership. Interviews, on-site observation,…

The value of field experience in administrator preparation programs is assessed in this paper, which examines commonly held beliefs about field experience. The following values of field experience--that it assesses career commitment, refines school goals, provides practice in real settings, and develops personal and professional competence--are…

Educational reformists have asserted that collaborative relationships between universities and local education agencies must be firmly established if improvements are to occur in the preservice preparation of school administrators. One collaboration format involves practica and other field-based learning opportunities for aspiring administrators.…

This paper is a response to two recommendations for preservice training of school administrators proposed in the 1987 report of the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration: that greater attention be placed on discovering ways in which universities and local education agencies might collaborate more effectively in the…