The purpose for this research was to determine the accuracy of the perceptions of school administrators and community leaders regarding education finance information. School administrators and community leaders in this research project included members of three groups: public school administrators, other public school leaders, and leaders in the…

Although university-based school administrator preparation programs are required by accreditation agencies to assess the dispositions of candidates, valid and reliable methods for doing so remain scarce. "The School Leaders Disposition Inventory"[C] (SDLI) is proposed as an instrument that has promise for identifying leadership dispositions…

Sixteen superintendents from the Southern Gulf Coast area were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the connection of ISLLC Standard One to practice. A comprehensive analysis of superintendent responses to questions related to five research questions suggests 11 major themes. Superintendents discussed the importance of vision, data-driven…

No Child Left Behind has increased data collection and reporting, the development of data systems, and interest in using data for decision-making in schools and classrooms. Ends-driven decision making has become common educational practice, where the ends justify the means at all costs, and short-term results trump longer-term outcomes and the…

In this article, the author presents ten practical reflections for educational leaders. The author states that educational leaders should: (1) know themselves and where they are going; (2) not be overly prepared; (3) link with others; (4) measure their words; (5) take responsibility; (6) keep others informed; (7) maintain their perspective; (8)…

The manner by which colleges and universities prepare school leaders in doctoral programs is being called into question. One report is stirring much controversy for its unflattering portrayal of administrator preparation programs. In a 2005 report entitled "Educating School Leaders," former Columbia University president Art Levine characterizes…

The "No Child Left Behind Act" signed into law in 2002 requires school districts to hire highly qualified teachers who possess the necessary dispositions to ensure that all children learn (Center on Education Policy, 2002). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) (2002) defines dispositions as "the values, commitments,…

As a result of the "No Child Left Behind Act," there is increased emphasis on assessment in P-12 schools today. School administrators are responsible for assessing student achievement, teacher and staff effectiveness, school climate, and graduates' perceptions of school programs. At the university level, organizations, such as the National Council…

While the interview remains the most relevant process by which information about an applicant can be obtained, the effective school administrator must recognize that the interview process is much more than exploring an applicant's qualifications, skills, and experiences. The interview must also be utilized as a means of leading. In other words,…

The future of educational leadership lies in the ability to teach the next generation of leaders how to use their conceptual and intellectual skills; in essence, how to think critically, solve problems appropriately, make decisions cogently and provide leadership to the enterprise. The key to preparing administrators is not "HOW" future leaders…

The principal preparation internship is designed to prepare aspiring principals for the principalship. Principals are expected to lead this initiative through activities that develop aspiring principals' understanding of school leadership. However, no research has determined if principals' involvement influences preservice principals' concerns…

In 1987, the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration concluded that educational leadership preparation programs in the United States were marked by a "lack of collaboration between school districts and universities and lack of modern content." Echoing this concern, scholars have argued for a programmatic change that…

A 2003 study of faculty and students in two NCATE-accredited New England universities sought to understand the kinds of learning opportunities the respondents perceived helped them build the capacity for ethical practice as defined by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA), and the role of reflection in developing…

Lately, preparation programs for PreK-12 school leaders have been at the center of controversy. Infamous among university circles is the 2005 "Educating School Leaders" report, which calls for an overhaul of university-based principal and superintendent preparation programs. The focus of the report is that school leadership programs are in…

The topic of professional and corporate ethics is one that is discussed frequently in the general media today. With unindicted and unconvicted ethical violators like Kenneth Lay of Enron and Richard Scrushy of Health South appearing as anathemas to those who study and attempt to incorporate ethical tenets into everyday professional life, debates…