The job of the school principal has become much more complex and demanding over the past several decades. Many university-based principal preparation programs--which prepare the majority of school principals--have struggled with how to make the fundamental changes needed to prepare principals for today's schools. To test a path forward, The…

It is up to the governor to assume the leadership for providing the citizens with a vision of what a quality education can be. (Author/MLF)

Superintendents can wield influence at the statehouse if they know how. Offers tips from state-level lobbyists on how to reach a legislator's ear. (MLF)

A study was conducted to investigate the role perceptions of the state directors of community college education in 11 states. The directors were asked to rate 67 managerial activities in terms the importance of the activity and the amount of time they spent on it. They were also asked to identify the activities needing more of their time and those…

A study of communication between superintendents and legislators in Illinois revealed that superintendents seldom speak to legislators. Survey forms were sent to the 39 legislators on education committees: 29 legislators completed the survey, and 21 of these were interviewed indepth. (MLF)

These documents are designed to help seventh grade students in New York State understand the role of women and the structure and function of the family in both New York and U.S. history. Students are introduced to the state's first two first ladies: Cornelia Tappen Clinton (1744-1800) and Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802). Between 1777 and 1804,…

In this lesson plan, students are assigned a member of the California Assembly to research and a political faction to represent. Students examine representative bills voted on by the California Assembly to determine if their member's voting record coincides with the views of their political faction. Ultimately, students must decide whether, and…

Actions which chief state school officers can take to promote the improvement of K-12 public education are presented in this brochure. The brochure is one of a series which offers specific ways in which different interest groups can respond to the eight broad action recommendations proposed by the Education Commission of the States' Task Force on…

Serving as a reference for parents and professionals who live and work with disabled children, this resource section lists state directors of special education, national disability-related organizations (United States and Canada), parent coalition groups, government agencies; professional organizations, a calendar of annual meetings, and a…

Summarizes public school finance in New York State, focusing on recent high levels of state aid. Discusses Speaker of Assembly's role as education advocate. This powerful Democrat formed a 1983 task force that studied financing, set priorities, issued a report, and produced a five-year plan to initiate further legislative action. Contains 2…

This sourcebook contends that arts education is essential to a good education, and that legislators and others interested in educational reform will find that arts education can help to solve broader problems in education and help students succeed. Organized into five chapters, the first chapter discusses a recent movement that has worked for an…

A study was conducted to compare the priorities of college administrators with those of strategic external constituencies regarding the activities of the Maricopa Community Colleges and Central Arizona College. The strategic constituencies for the colleges were defined as all 90 state legislators, 21 state board members and staff, and a sample of…

Individual members of state legislatures wield the greatest influence in state level policy formation. This was one of the findings of a study that identified the power and influence context of state-level policymaking. Data were gathered from six states (Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois) using an instrument…

The National Governors' Association Task Force on Readiness presented policy recommendations to help at-risk children prepare for school and meet new educational standards. Suggested state initiatives include various outreach and preschool programs for low-income families, assistance with basic skills and teacher training, and incentives and…

Before there can be an understanding of politics, policy, and action in education, there must be an understanding of the value systems of policymakers. Policymakers, in their talk, in their choices of symbols and metaphors, in their choices of strategies for dealing with conflict, reveal their own needs, their role orientations, their group…