The 1983 publication of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform" (National Commission of Excellence in Education) "initiated the longest sustained period of attention to public education in the nation's history and ignited a new wave of interest in teacher preparation" (NRC, Committee on the Study of…

It is well documented that successful Professional Development School (PDS) initiatives are contingent on trusting relationships between the university and school districts. Over the past 25 years, continual efforts have been made by the Kansas State University (KSU) PDS to minimize notions of status while maintaining mutually beneficial goals and…

Generalizing about school district-teacher education program relationships across the long history and broad landscape of teacher preparation in America can prove challenging. However, if partnerships imply stable, long-term, mutually beneficial arrangements characterized by shared decision-making and resources, even a relatively cursory scan…

The experience and reflection of participants of the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI) program are the focus of this article. Many Kansas superintendents face the challenge of working hundreds of miles from colleagues who wear similar hats and work in comparable roles. Often the closest professional mentors or peers live hours away,…

The Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI), in a unique response to an identified need by state and local professionals, has provided a vital support to educational leaders in Kansas stepping into the superintendent role. The mission of KELI has focused on providing this support through strong collaboration and a spirit of partnership with…

With increased debates over various aspects of special education, it has become apparent that multicultural leadership is needed to prepare school administrators and teachers to design effective special education programs. In this article, the authors discuss several aspects of administering successful programs for multicultural students. To be…

The purpose of this study was twofold. The immediate objective was to collect survey data from students, both before and after program delivery, to assess the effectiveness of the field-responsive curriculum developed for this cohort. The second purpose was to pilot an approach to program evaluation on a tightly controlled basis to begin the…

This article shares one educational leadership program's experiences with the use of student portfolios to assist in assessment of the program's effectiveness in preparing aspiring school principals. The authors begin with a discussion of market pressures for program reforms, which include the use of student portfolios for student assessment.…

The study reported here is intended to address both the concerns regarding the lack of successful administrator preparation programs and the need for additional research which can be used to evaluate administrator preparation programs. This study used student-created exit portfolios as the database for a qualitative document analysis of two forms…

A group of university personnel and public school superintendents in Kansas believe it is time to reexamine the role and function of existing partnerships to increase the quality of education. Public schools and universities are more influential and effective when working as partners rather than as independent agencies. (JOW)

Considers the effects of the Leadership in Educational Administration Development (LEAD) Program. Reviews both program and project specific accomplishments. (JOW)

A control-group, quasi-experimental study measured the effects of the Paideia Program on secondary students' critical thinking skills as measured on the Cornell Critical Thinking test. Findings reveal how shallow the knowledge base undergirding critical thinking is. (JOW)