The instructional behaviors and related competencies of school superintendents and the contexts in which they occur are investigated in this qualitative study. Methodology involved grounded theory-based content analysis of indepth interviews with a reputationally identified sample of 48 Texas school superintendents. Analysis of behaviors produced…

A framework to analyze leadership with a focus on the concepts of commitment and vision is developed in this paper. Four sections discuss current views of reform concepts, leadership, vision, and commitment. A conclusion is that widespread, lasting school reform requires shared leadership, a collective vision based on organizational introspection,…

The 13 chapters of this book are written by scholars who have made significant contributions to school administration and to their own disciplines. After an introductory chapter on what research has to say about commitment, performance, and productivity, the discussion is presented in four parts: (1) empirical issues; (2) theoretical issues; (3)…

The move toward teacher empowerment in elementary schools with at-risk student populations is explored in this paper. Progress in addressing the needs of all students, especially those at risk, depends upon implementing teacher empowerment through participative decision-making. Methodology is based on experiences of the Accelerated Schools Program…

Results of a staff development program designed to enhance participative decision-making through improving the quality circle process are presented in this practicum report. Methodology was based on two sets of interviews--needs assessment and followup--with school leaders at two school sites and onsite observation. After identifying problems in…

Project LIRO (Leadership for Improved Restructuring Outcomes) was an attempt to influence student outcomes and school change through a year-long work experience and training of department chairs and administrators. The project used Teacher Collegial Groups (TCGs) to encourage collaboration between personnel from Institutions of Higher Education…

A structured questionnaire was mailed to the directors (n=124) of all of the academic libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to obtain information on the status of participative management for support staff groups in major research libraries. Thirty of the 69 library administrators responding to the survey report that…

The proceedings of a 3-day conference, discussing the relationship between government and the arts in the United States, are presented. Issues that will confront the arts in the 1990s were identified and policy recommendations were suggested. Six basic principles were reflected in many of the discussions: (1) a flourishing artistic life is in the…

A detailed analysis of how and why school-based curriculum development (SBCD) occurs is provided in this book. Case studies from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are presented to show that despite different contexts, common patterns exist, especially in terms of participant motivation and processes. An innovations…

Implementation processes and outcomes at a junior high school of the Mastery in Learning Project, an NEA-sponsored national school transformation effort, are described in this paper. Based on the principle that a school's decisions should be made by its faculty, the project seeks to develop teachers' ability to creatively and cooperatively use…

The University of Southern Maine offers a Master's degree in Instructional Leadership designed to prepare educators for the demands of working with others to promote educational excellence. Two themes of the program focus on: problem finding--the disposition to scrutinize aims as well as means; and a valuing of and practical experience with action…

In March 1990, teachers in 80% of the counties in West Virginia participated in a teacher strike. In this study, 83 striking teachers answered 10 open-ended questions put to them either through an interview or a questionnaire. The information was analyzed through a thematic analysis process. Teachers overwhelmingly felt they were not given the…

Applying industrial organizational theory to classroom management, the authors examined the organization of a complex bilingual curriculum for the effects of shared authority among students and teachers and the effects of shared decision-making among staff. Using a math-science curriculum called "Finding Out: Descubrimiento," the nine…

Types of small groups for instructional purposes, and procedures, structure, and practical arrangements are discussed, and reference is made to the British system. It is suggested that an orderly beginning to small group work best suits novice tutors and inexperienced students. In some subjects tightly organized group work may become progressively…

An analysis is presented of the organization and administration of public and private two-year colleges in the United States. Section I highlights the changes that took place within community colleges in the 1970's in budgeting, the expansion of collective bargaining, and the pressure to provide increased opportunities to minority students.…