This quantitative study examined perceptions of K-12 public school principals toward the Tennessee teacher tenure law under Senate Bill 1528 and how principals perceived that the law has affected their ability to evaluate and retain effective teachers. The Tennessee Teacher Tenure Principal Perception Survey was adopted and slightly modified from…

The daily demands on school principals require clear and consistent feedback, and without a mentor, a new principal may not have this type of assistance. This phenomenological study explores the perceptions of new principals and their assigned mentors in one legislated initiative, named by the researcher as the Vermont mentoring…

The purpose for this study was to ascertain the perceptions principals of public secondary schools in Minnesota have in relation to the evaluation of their job performance. Responding principals reported that past evaluations have been fair and consistent but have questioned their value with regard to professional growth. When asked if student…

The effect on state legislation of a united body of principals can be significant. This author explains how bills affecting education can be initiated, fought for, and passed. (Editor)

The governor of Georgia outlines the Quality Basic Education Act that resulted from the recommendations from the Governor's Education Review Commission. (MD)

The Delaware RE:Learning project is based on Theodore Sizer's work with the Coalition of Essential Schools and is supported by the Education Commission of the States. RE:Learning principles include building a new vision of education, organizing around student learning, creating new working relationships, developing coherence and meaning, and…

According to a recent study, state mandates for tougher academic standards do not necessarily lead to more and better course content. Although more lower- and middle-achieving students are enrolled in academic classes, these courses are at the basic, general, or remedial level and fail to meet reform commission goals. (MLH)

A survey of Connecticut secondary school principals points to a high percentage of dissatisfaction on the part of principals in respect to tasks associated with the responsibility of evaluating teachers, as well as the amount and kind of help given principals to implement the state legislation on evaluation of teachers. (Author/MLF)

This study concludes that a 1985 Illinois instructional leadership mandate does not provide enough incentive or necessary resources for school principals to change their behavior to comply with the legislation. Also, school realities make job changes difficult for principals desiring to adopt new behaviors. (MLH)

Reviews the current (1987) certification requirements for principals in the 50 states. Speculates about future changes. Includes four tables. (Author/MD)

Questions the current push to improve education through legislation of higher standards in education. In Virginia the school boards association distributes a handbook of policies and resolutions to state legislators and asks that schools delinquent in standards be placed in receivership rather than impose educational reforms from above that are…

The primary uses of teacher assessment at the local level are to improve instruction, inform tenure decisions, and fulfill contractual requirements; in most districts, teacher assessment has little influence on educational practice. Principals can substantially enhance the success of teacher assessment by understanding its purpose, considering…

Describes the Florida Educational Accountability Act of 1976. The purpose of the act is to validate the high school diploma, thereby improving the quality of public education and eliminating the continued need for social promotion. (Author/MLF)

Child abuse is an issue of growing public concern. Seven questions and answers are presented pertaining to the legal risks and responsibilities of school personnel in reporting cases of child abuse. (TE)

Assisted by a sophisticated telecommunications system, 90 small, rural Minnesota schools collaborated to influence state legislation regarding funding equity and other issues. Small-school strategies for building political activism include seizing available opportunities, developing leadership capacity, involving political constituents,…