Decentralization proponents argue that autonomous decision making at the school level will significantly affect teaching and learning, leading to improved outcomes. The problem is to distinguish real autonomous decision making from a degree of managerialism that decentralizes administration, rather than decision making. A five-part analytical…

Summarizes findings of a study identifying problematic aspects of the deputy principalship (job dissatisfaction and lack of a significant professional identity) in self-managed Western Australia primary schools. Deputy principals can reshape their positions by increasing their role awareness, assuming greater policymaking responsibility,…

Although many local education authorities (LEAs) have implemented new information technology (IT) systems to support local management of schools, much less attention has been given to evaluating the success of these systems. Describes a study of 16 direct users in secondary schools within an LEA. Findings suggest information that can be fed into…

All organizations can be located on a complex continuum whose extremes are total self-management or total control by external agents. School self-management is measured by degree of local community control over inputs, structures, processes, and relations with the environment. Australian schools have significantly decentralized processes and are…

A former primary headteacher examines problems inherent in the doubly loaded teaching head's role in small (British) primary schools. The demands posed by recent changes have been exacerbated by the headteacher's lack of real freedom to determine an appropriate balance between teaching and managerial responsibilities. Headteachers' special…

The provision for schools to waive local education authority control and become self-governing was the most radical element of Britain's 1988 Education Reform Act. A survey of five opted-out primary schools shows that larger schools succeed better at self-governance because of economies of scale; clustering smaller schools into groups with single…

Britain's 1992 Education Bill closely follows the 1992 "Choice and Diversity" White Paper's advocacy of "grant-maintained" (self-governing) status for schools. These decentralization measures may prove simplistic and ineffective, because the White Paper identifies no school evaluation criteria other than popularity with parents…

Summarizes research into the positive and negative views about school-based management (local management of schools) held by senior managers, governors, and classroom teachers in 11 schools within 1 British local education authority. LMS has concentrated financial tasks within a small elite group of senior managers and governors, with governors…

Raises philosophical and theoretical issues (concerning leadership, productivity, change, adequacy, equity) that must be addressed for school-based management to succeed. Structural changes do not always produce increased autonomy for those at lower organizational levels; nor does leadership naturally evolve that empowers others. Most principals…

Offers an interim review of the implementation of the local management of schools (LMS) initiative. A model for LMS as an organizational form termed "decentralized management" is advanced and applied critically to understand aspects of the restructuring currently taking place within the British educational system. (48 references) (MLF)

According to Peter Drucker, the school's monopolistic position as producer and distributor of knowledge will be challenged by postcapitalist society. Knowledge is fast becoming the sole production factor, sidelining both capital and labor. This article addresses current concerns about school self-management, arguing that decentralization offers an…

Discusses the political ideology and basic principles of the school-centered reforms of New South Wales. Describes the reform package; reports on progress during the first year of implementation; and evaluates major issues that have delayed the process of change. Concludes with an attempt to predict future outcomes. (23 references) (MLF)