ERIC Number: ED279089
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Total School Intervention Programs: A State Initiative to Improve Staff Development through Organization Development.
Sange-Walters, Peggy; And Others
A collaborative approach to solving school problems in Maryland emphasizes planned change through organization development processes. Organization development, a process of planned improvement in overall functioning, strives for sustained capacity in problem-solving by communication, goal-setting, conflict resolution, and commitment. The organization, rather than outside consultants, defines planned change, and continuous data collection and analysis provide collective awareness. Outside consultants act as facilitators. Since 1977, Maryland has developed the Instructional Leadership Project (ILP) and the Teacher Decision Making Project, which are models for the state Total School Intervention Programs. The two programs are based on an organization development change model that focuses on instructional improvement and school climate through staff team development. The Total School Intervention Programs emerged from collaboration between state and local educational structures, with assistance from the University of Maryland. Districts were supportive because programs were tailored for local needs and outside assistants worked with personnel as equals. Evaluaters of the ILP noted student testing improvement. Staff collaborative decisionmaking increased, and 97 percent of respondents in 1986 observed greater confidence among teams in solving problems. Staff development improved, and teachers reported more assistance in instructional improvement. The majority also noted improvements for students in instruction and school climate. (CJH)
Descriptors: Change Strategies, Cooperative Planning, Cooperative Programs, Demonstration Programs, Educational Change, Educational Environment, Elementary Secondary Education, Improvement Programs, Instructional Development, Instructional Improvement, Intervention, Long Range Planning, Organizational Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Participative Decision Making, Problem Solving, School Districts, Staff Development, State Programs, State School District Relationship, Student School Relationship, Teacher Administrator Relationship, Teamwork
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Practitioners; Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Maryland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A