Recent research points to a strong correlation between effective school practices and creative administrative leadership. This book focuses on the personal skills and attributes and the organizational conditions necessary for providing this kind of leadership. Principals' primary tasks of efficient building operation, personnel management, budget oversight, and communications development receive greatest attention. The first of four parts describes the societal and organizational settings in relation to effective practices. The first three chapters explore the internal structure and decision-making process, while the fourth treats community dynamics (population mobility, diversity, and external influences). Part two addresses the curriculum and the students, highlighting, in chapters 5 through 10, goal setting, curriculum organization models, and staff and student scheduling. Part three discusses personnel management. Chapter 11 examines human resource development, especially inservice programs, and presents an operating model that incorporates successful practices in leading corporations. Chapter 12 discusses the principal's role in staff supervision and evaluation. The final part describes the tools and techniques of good management (including computer usage, record keeping, and fiscal planning) and the legal framework of school operations. Each chapter contains numerous tables, a summary, endnotes, and a list of selected readings. A subject index is also provided. (MLH)