As teachers, administrators, and community members move from a district curriculum management system to a school-based model and from an isolated, private teacher planning format to a collaborative forum for curriculum deliberations, participants will need new perspectives and skills for analyzing the new practices. This article provides this…

By the year 2000, school decentralization could become another unfortunate, ineffectual pendulum swing. According to this article, a dynamic, ever-changing system of decentralization and centralization balances the benefits of local administrative autonomy with the pursuit of unified goals and helps each leadership level understand its…

Hans Weiler's conception of the political utilities of decentralization are applied to case study data of a school district's decision to enact site-based management. It is argued that site-based management may have considerable political utility in crises. (SLD)

The utility of school-based management (SBM) as a means of generating school improvement is examined. A model of high-involvement management is applied to show what makes SBM work and under what conditions in four school districts. The definitions of SBM must be expanded to include organizational redesign. (SLD)

Examines extent schools using site-based management approach were engaged in decision making associated with curriculum and instruction, roles teachers were playing, and strategies used to ensure instructional program quality. Analyzes data gathered in extensive interviews with staff, board members, and parents from six school districts.…

Analyzes the processes used by a group of Australian teachers to make curriculum decisions at the school level. Policies aimed at decentralizing curriculum decision making can be supported only if teachers' expertise is fully utilized in the decision-making process. Unless teachers contribute something that administrators cannot, they will be seen…

Describes a typical "good" school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that was transformed into an exceptional learning environment by a highly motivated principal and her staff. Audubon School's principal succeeded because she created a climate of high expectations; exposed teachers to professional growth activities; encouraged faculty…

A case study of a teacher committee collaborating on development of school policy illuminates such barriers to teacher collaboration and school-based management as time constraints and lack of inservice support. A major difficulty is that the culture of teaching is based on privacy and individualism. (SK)

Summarizes a study of 30 headteachers that examined how British primary schools collaborated and how changes associated with local school management affected their relations with each other. Identifies competition for pupils as the main reason for deteriorating relations. The local education authority's declining role should spur principals to…

Seven competing and complementary explanations of the widespread movement toward educational restructuring are reviewed. Critiques from various political perspectives (far left, left, middle, and right) are also presented. Unless value conflicts are resolved, restructuring may lead to a further decline, rather than renewed success, for public…

School support centers have been established to facilitate the Queensland (Australia) State Education Department's restructuring efforts. Although these centers are supposed to assist schools as they define their own needs, they must also ensure that schools accomplish system imperatives and centrally determined priorities. Interviews with one…

William Clune's adequacy agenda, to improve student performance standards through combining larger compensatory expenditures with increased site-based management in disadvantaged schools, illuminates the problem of productivity in educational spending. A mere infusion of money will not improve matters. Research is needed that considers how base…

Principals, familiar with school personnel, goals, and operations, are a logical leadership choice for establishing an effective decision-making process. School-based management offers potential for organizational change geared toward teacher empowerment. Principals must first encourage open communication and trust and help staff develop…

The first education reform wave stressed top-down state initiatives identifying educators as the problem and prescribed greater accountability, closer supervision, tighter regulation, better teacher screening, tougher graduation standards, and a longer school year. The second reform wave saw educators as the solution and advocated bottom-up…

As more school systems adopt site-based management, local decision makers need greater access to all kinds of information. Microcomputer-based networks can help with classroom management, scheduling, student program design, counselor recommendations, and financial reporting operations. Administrators are provided with planning tips and a sample…